Bangladesh and Pakistan on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen bilateral cooperation in preventing illegal drug trafficking, narcotics abuse, and related money laundering activities.
The agreement was signed at a ceremony held at Hotel InterContinental Dhaka.
Bangladesh’s Home Affairs Adviser Salahuddin Ahmed and Pakistan’s Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi signed the agreement on behalf of their respective countries, according to a statement from Bangladesh’s Home Ministry.
Under the MoU, both countries agreed to increase cooperation through intelligence sharing, technical assistance, and coordinated anti-narcotics operations to fight the trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and related materials.
According to the agreement, Bangladesh and Pakistan will regularly exchange information about drug traffickers, drug trafficking organizations (DTOs), new smuggling routes, and modern concealment methods used in narcotics trafficking.
The MoU also includes joint intelligence-based operations, including “controlled delivery operations,” aimed at disrupting international drug networks. Intelligence agencies from both countries will work together based on mutual requests and coordinated cooperation.
As part of efforts to improve capacity, both sides agreed to arrange training and retraining programmes for drug control officials and exchange scientific research and expertise related to narcotics control.
The agreement also includes technical cooperation in the use of modern detection equipment and sniffer dogs to identify hidden drugs.
Under the MoU framework, Bangladesh’s Department of Narcotics Control and Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force will act as the main agencies for operational coordination and regular information exchange.
Both countries also agreed to maintain strict confidentiality regarding all shared information and documents. No information will be shared with any third party without prior consent.
The MoU will remain valid for 10 years from the date of signing and may be extended later through mutual agreement.
Officials from both countries expressed hope that the agreement would strengthen regional cooperation against drug trafficking and help protect public health and security in both nations.