Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Mohsin Naqvi and Bangladeshi Interior Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Saturday signed a landmark agreement in Dhaka to strengthen cooperation against drug trafficking and narcotics abuse.

The agreement was signed during a meeting between the two interior ministers aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation in internal security and law enforcement.

Under the memorandum of understanding (MoU), Pakistan and Bangladesh agreed to jointly combat the illegal transportation, smuggling and sale of narcotics. Both sides also pledged to develop coordinated strategies to dismantle drug supply networks and address the growing social impact of drug abuse.

The two countries will exchange timely intelligence on drug traffickers and criminal networks, while also cooperating in personnel training, modern technology and sharing best practices in anti-narcotics operations.

The ministers also agreed to establish a secretary-level joint working group between the two interior ministries to coordinate future cooperation.

During the talks, Naqvi offered Pakistan’s full support for Bangladesh’s Safe City Project and assured cooperation at all levels.

Both sides discussed expanding collaboration in counterterrorism, internal security, cybercrime, organised crime and financial fraud investigations. They also explored cooperation in the training of civil armed forces and police academy officers.

Naqvi invited the Bangladeshi home minister to visit Pakistan, while Salahuddin Ahmed thanked Pakistan for offering assistance on the Safe City Project.

Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, Cabinet Secretary Naseem Al Ghani, Home Secretary Manzoor Chaudhry and Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider also attended the meeting