Bangladesh and Pakistan sign MoU to tackle drug trafficking and narcotics abuse

Bangladesh and Pakistan on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation to prevent illicit drug trafficking, narcotics abuse, and related money laundering activities.

The agreement was signed during a ceremony at Hotel InterContinental Dhaka.

Bangladesh’s Home Affairs Adviser Salahuddin Ahmed and Pakistan’s Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi signed the MoU on behalf of their respective countries, according to a press release from Bangladesh’s Home Ministry.

Under the agreement, both nations agreed to strengthen cooperation through intelligence sharing, technical assistance, and coordinated anti-narcotics operations to curb the trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and their precursors.

The MoU outlines regular exchanges of information on drug traffickers, drug trafficking organisations (DTOs), emerging smuggling routes, and new concealment methods used in narcotics trafficking.

It also provides for joint intelligence-led operations, including controlled delivery operations, aimed at dismantling transnational drug networks. Intelligence agencies from both countries will conduct activities through mutual requests and coordinated collaboration.

As part of capacity-building initiatives, the two sides agreed to organise training and retraining programmes for narcotics control officials, while also exchanging scientific research and expertise related to drug control.

The agreement further includes technical cooperation involving the use of modern equipment and sniffer dogs to detect concealed narcotics.

Under the MoU framework, Bangladesh’s Department of Narcotics Control and Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force will act as focal points for operational coordination and regular information exchange.

Both countries also pledged to maintain strict confidentiality regarding all shared information and documents, ensuring that no material is disclosed to third parties without prior consent.

The MoU will remain effective for 10 years from the date of signing and may be extended through mutual agreement.

Officials from both sides expressed optimism that the agreement would enhance regional cooperation against narcotics trafficking and contribute to safeguarding public health and security in both countries.