Bangladesh and Pakistan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bolster bilateral cooperation in the fight against illicit drug trafficking, narcotics abuse, and related money laundering. The agreement was formalised during a ceremony at the Hotel InterContinental Dhaka on Friday.
Bangladesh’s Home Affairs Adviser Salahuddin Ahmed and Pakistan’s Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi signed the instrument on behalf of their respective governments, marking a significant step in regional security efforts.
The agreement focuses on enhancing collaboration through intelligence sharing, technical assistance, and coordinated anti-narcotics operations. Both nations have pledged to target the trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and their precursors.
Under the terms of the MoU, the countries will regularly exchange data regarding drug traffickers, organised crime groups, emerging smuggling routes, and the evolving concealment techniques used to bypass border controls.
A key component of the deal involves joint intelligence-led activities, including controlled delivery operations designed to dismantle transnational drug networks. The intelligence agencies of both nations will now act upon mutual requests and work in close coordination.
To ensure the effectiveness of these efforts, the two sides agreed to establish training and retraining programmes for drug control officials, while also sharing scientific research and expertise in narcotics management.
Technical cooperation will also extend to the use of modern detection equipment and the deployment of sniffer dogs to identify concealed illicit substances. Bangladesh’s Department of Narcotics Control and Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force have been designated as the primary focal points for operational coordination. The agreement includes a strict confidentiality clause, ensuring that shared information and sensitive documents are not disclosed to any third party without prior mutual consent.
The MoU is set to remain valid for an initial period of 10 years, with the possibility of further extensions. Officials from both delegations expressed optimism that the partnership would strengthen regional defences against narcotics and improve public health and security for their citizens. The move is seen as a vital framework for addressing the financial infrastructures that sustain the global drug trade.
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