Bangladesh and Pakistan on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cooperation to prevent illegal trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
The agreement was signed at a ceremony held at Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka by Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and Pakistan’s Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi on behalf of their respective countries.
Under the MoU, the two countries will exchange information and provide technical assistance to combat drug trafficking and drug-related money laundering.
Both sides also agreed to regularly share intelligence regarding suspected drug traffickers, criminal organisations, new smuggling routes and emerging trafficking methods.
According to the agreement, Bangladesh and Pakistan will exchange information on drug traffickers, drug trafficking organisations (DTOs) and new concealment techniques used for smuggling narcotics.
The two countries will also conduct coordinated intelligence operations, including controlled delivery operations, on the basis of mutual requests to curb drug trafficking.
The MoU further includes cooperation in training and capacity building for officials involved in narcotics control, as well as exchange of scientific research findings related to drug prevention and enforcement.
The agreement also includes technical cooperation, including sharing experiences in the use of equipment for detecting concealed narcotics and sniffer dogs.
Under the arrangement, Bangladesh’s Department of Narcotics Control and Pakistan’s Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) will serve as focal points for regular and operational information exchange.
Both countries agreed to maintain strict confidentiality regarding all exchanged information and documents, ensuring that no information is shared with any third party without consent.
The MoU will remain valid for 10 years from the date of signing and may be extended later through mutual agreement.
Both sides expressed hope that the cooperation would help ensure public health and security in the two countries by strengthening efforts against narcotics trafficking and abuse.