Pakistan and Bangladesh have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen bilateral cooperation against drug trafficking and narcotics abuse, the Ministry of Interior said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The development came during Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi\u2019s visit to Dhaka, where he met his Bangladeshi counterpart Salahuddin Ahmed, according to the ministry.<\/p>\n
According to the ministry, the two sides signed a \u201chistoric agreement\u201d. It said that Naqvi and Ahmed signed the MoU on behalf of their respective governments.<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Under the MoU, both countries will fully cooperate with each other to prevent the illegal transportation and smuggling of narcotics, while joint efforts will be made to \u201ccurb the growing trend of drug abuse and eliminate its negative impacts\u201d, the ministry said.<\/p>\n It was also agreed that a joint strategy will be formulated to dismantle the illegal sale and supply network of narcotics. The relevant agencies of both countries will exchange timely intelligence and information regarding drug traffickers and trafficking networks, the interior ministry said.<\/p>\n \u201cTraining of personnel, use of modern technology, and best practices for narcotics prevention will be shared between the two sides,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n According to the ministry, Naqvi also offered full cooperation to his Bangladeshi counterpart regarding the Safe City project.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will support the government of Bangladesh in the project in every possible way,\u201d the ministry quoted him as saying.<\/p>\n According to the ministry, both sides also agreed on enhancing cooperation between the two countries in the areas of bilateral ties, internal security, and the training of civil armed forces. Discussions were also held on increasing cooperation to combat terrorism and prevent human trafficking. The interior ministers also exchanged views on joint measures for counter-terrorism.<\/p>\n Naqvi and Ahmed held detailed discussions on \u201cenhancing mutual cooperation in the areas of cybercrimes, organised crime, and financial fraud\u201d, the ministry said, adding they also discussed cooperation in training programmes for officers at police academies.<\/p>\n It said that Naqvi invited his Bangladeshi counterpart to visit Pakistan, while the latter thanked him for offering cooperation on the Safe City project.<\/p>\n Relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh remained shaky during the rule of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina. However, following the popular revolt against her government and her subsequent exile, relations between the two countries improved markedly.<\/p>\n Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal had attended <\/a>the oath-taking ceremony of Bangladesh\u2019s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in February.<\/p>\n Last December, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq travelled to Dhaka for the funeral <\/u><\/a>of the country\u2019s first female prime minister Khaleda Zia.<\/p>\n