DHAKA: Pakistan and Bangladesh on Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation to combat drug trafficking and narcotics abuse, according to Pakistan’s interior ministry.
The agreement was signed during Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s visit to Dhaka, where he held talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Salahuddin Ahmed.
According to the ministry, both ministers signed the MoU on behalf of their respective governments and agreed to establish a secretary-level joint working group between the two interior ministries.
Under the agreement, Pakistan and Bangladesh will cooperate fully to prevent the illegal transportation and smuggling of narcotics. The two countries also agreed to work jointly to curb the rising trend of drug abuse and address its harmful social impacts.
The ministry said both sides decided to formulate a joint strategy to dismantle narcotics sale and supply networks. Relevant agencies from the two countries will also exchange timely intelligence and information related to drug traffickers and trafficking operations.
The agreement further includes cooperation in the training of personnel, sharing of modern technology, and the exchange of best practices related to narcotics prevention and enforcement.
During the meeting, Naqvi also offered Pakistan’s full cooperation to Bangladesh regarding the Safe City project, saying Islamabad would support Dhaka in every possible way.
The two sides additionally agreed to strengthen cooperation in bilateral relations, internal security, and the training of civil armed forces. Discussions were also held on expanding collaboration in counterterrorism efforts and preventing human trafficking.
According to the ministry, the ministers exchanged views on joint counterterrorism measures and discussed enhancing cooperation in tackling cybercrime, organised crime, and financial fraud. They also explored collaboration in training programmes for officers at police academies.
Naqvi invited Salahuddin Ahmed to visit Pakistan, while the Bangladeshi minister thanked him for Islamabad’s offer of cooperation on the Safe City project.
Relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh had remained strained during the tenure of former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina. However, ties between the two countries have improved significantly following the popular uprising against her government and her subsequent exile.
Earlier this year, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal attended the oath-taking ceremony of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in February.
Last December, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq visited Dhaka to attend the funeral of former Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia.
In August 2025, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also travelled to Dhaka, where he met Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus.