Pakistan and Bangladesh have signed a new agreement aimed at strengthening cooperation against drug trafficking and narcotics abuse, marking another step toward improving bilateral relations between the two countries.
The agreement was signed during a meeting in Dhaka between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Bangladesh’s Interior Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, where both sides also discussed broader security and law enforcement cooperation.
Joint Efforts Against Drug Smuggling
Under the newly signed memorandum of understanding (MoU), Pakistan and Bangladesh agreed to work together to curb the illegal transportation, sale, and supply of narcotics.
Key areas of cooperation include:
- Sharing intelligence on drug smuggling networks
- Coordinating anti-narcotics operations
- Developing joint strategies against trafficking routes
- Enhancing efforts to reduce drug abuse and its social effects
Both countries also decided to establish a secretary-level joint working group between their interior ministries to improve coordination and policy implementation.
Security and Counterterrorism Cooperation
Beyond anti-drug efforts, the talks focused on expanding cooperation in several security-related areas, including:
- Counterterrorism coordination
- Human smuggling prevention
- Cybercrime investigations
- Organised crime monitoring
- Financial fraud detection
The two sides also explored collaboration between police academies and specialised training programs for law enforcement personnel.
Officials said both countries expressed interest in strengthening ties related to internal security and civil armed forces training.
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Technology and Safe City Collaboration
During the meeting, Pakistan offered support to Bangladesh for its Safe City Project, which aims to improve urban surveillance, public safety, and emergency response systems through modern technology.
The agreement also includes cooperation in:
- Training anti-narcotics personnel
- Sharing operational expertise
- Using advanced technologies in law enforcement
Bangladeshi officials welcomed Pakistan’s offer of technical assistance for the project.
Improving Pakistan-Bangladesh Relations
Relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh have shown signs of improvement since 2024 following major political developments in Dhaka.
In recent months:
- Sea trade between the two countries resumed
- Government-to-government commerce expanded
- Bangladesh’s national airline restarted regular flights to Karachi for the first time since 2012
These developments indicate a gradual warming of ties after years of limited diplomatic engagement.
Officials Present at the Meeting
Several senior officials attended the discussions, including Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, Cabinet Secretary Naseem Al Ghani, Home Secretary Manzoor Chaudhry, and Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider.
Minister Mohsin Naqvi also extended an invitation to his Bangladeshi counterpart to visit Pakistan in the future.
The newly signed agreement reflects growing cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh in areas of security, anti-narcotics operations, and law enforcement coordination. As diplomatic and economic ties continue to improve, both countries appear to be moving toward broader regional collaboration on shared security and development challenges.
