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

The agreement was signed at a ceremony held at the InterContinental Dhaka, where Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and Pakistan Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi signed the instrument on behalf of their respective governments.

According to a press release issued by Bangladesh’s Home Ministry, the MoU seeks to enhance cooperation through intelligence sharing, technical assistance and coordinated anti-narcotics operations to curb the trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursor chemicals.

Under the agreement, the two countries will regularly exchange information regarding drug traffickers, drug trafficking organisations (DTOs), emerging smuggling routes and new concealment techniques used in cross-border narcotics trade.

The MoU also provides for joint intelligence-led operations, including controlled delivery operations, to dismantle transnational drug networks. Intelligence agencies of both countries will conduct coordinated activities based on mutual requests and cooperation.

As part of efforts to strengthen institutional capacity, Bangladesh and Pakistan agreed to organise training and retraining programmes for anti-drug officials, while also exchanging scientific research, technical expertise and operational experiences related to narcotics control.

The agreement further outlines cooperation in the use of modern detection equipment and trained sniffer dogs to identify concealed drugs and intercept smuggling attempts more effectively.

Under the framework of the MoU, 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 sides also pledged to maintain strict confidentiality regarding all shared documents and intelligence, ensuring that no information is disclosed to any third party without prior consent.

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

Officials from both countries expressed optimism that the agreement would deepen regional cooperation against narcotics trafficking and contribute to safeguarding public health, social stability and regional security.