Pakistan, Bangladesh sign MoU against drug trafficking

Pakistan and Bangladesh signed a memorandum of understanding on Saturday to expand cooperation against drug trafficking and narcotics abuse.

The MoU was signed in Dhaka during a visit by Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who held talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Salahuddin Ahmed, Pakistan's Interior Ministry said.

What does the Pakistan-Bangladesh drug trafficking MoU cover?

The agreement commits both governments to coordinating efforts against the smuggling and illegal movement of narcotics, while jointly addressing rising drug abuse and its social impact.

It also provides for closer intelligence-sharing between law enforcement agencies and a joint strategy targeting cross-border trafficking networks. Training of personnel, use of modern technology, and best practices for narcotics prevention will be shared between the two sides.

What other areas of cooperation did Pakistan and Bangladesh agree on?

As part of broader institutional cooperation, Islamabad and Dhaka agreed to establish a joint working group at the secretary level to oversee coordination between their interior ministries.

Discussions extended beyond narcotics control to include counter-terrorism, cybercrime, organized crime, human trafficking, financial fraud, and expanded training programs for police and civil armed forces personnel.

Naqvi also offered Pakistan's support for Bangladesh's Safe City initiative, a technology-driven urban security project aimed at improving surveillance and public safety infrastructure.

"We will support the government of Bangladesh in the project in every possible way," the ministry quoted him as saying. Ahmed welcomed the offer and thanked Pakistan for its willingness to cooperate on the initiative.

The signing reflects a gradual warming of ties between the two South Asian countries following years of strained relations. The meeting also included discussions on broader bilateral relations and internal security cooperation between Islamabad and Dhaka.