Dhaka (TDI): Pakistan and Bangladesh have signed a comprehensive memorandum of understanding (MoU) to amp up bilateral cooperation in combatting drug smuggling and narcotics trafficking, on Friday.
The agreement was finalized during a high-level meeting at the Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Bangladeshi counterpart, Home Affairs Adviser Salahuddin Ahmed.
According to an official statement from Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior, the pact will remain effective for 10 years represents the first major security agreement established under Bangladesh’s current administration.
Both nations emphasized their commitment to strengthening security ties and interrupting the illegal supply lines and money laundering activities that impact both societies.
Under the terms of the MoU, the two countries will fully cooperate to prevent the illegal transportation of narcotics and psychotropic substances, including chemical components.
ڈھاکہ۔وفاقی وزیرداخلہ و نارکوٹکس کنٹرول محسن نقوی کی بنگلہ دیش کے وزیر داخلہ صلاح الدین احمد سے ملاقات
وزرائے داخلہ کا دونوں وزارت داخلہ کے درمیان سیکرٹری لیول جوائنٹ ورکنگ گروپ تشکیل دینے پر اتفاق pic.twitter.com/A5LVsVWWga— Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) May 9, 2026
The Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi highlighted that a joint strategy would be formulated to break down the international criminal organizations behind the illegal sale of drugs.
The agreement also requires that relevant agencies from both sides exchange timely intelligence regarding drug trafficking organizations (DTOs), emerging smuggling routes and new hidden transport methods.
This strategic partnership is seen as an essential step in securing maritime and air routes that are frequently exploited by international syndicates operating within the region.
To ensure the effective execution of the agreement, the two ministers agreed to establish a secretary-level Joint Working Group between their respective interior ministries.
The Bangladeshi Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed stressed the importance of this institutional framework in moving bilateral cooperation forward through technical assistance and capacity building.
Read More: Bangladeshi Civil Servants Arrive in Pakistan for Leadership Training
The discussions also aimed to broaden the scope of partnership to include internal security, the training of civil armed forces and joint measures for counter-terrorism.
Both sides expressed a unified stance on preventing human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants while also committing to the exchange of best practices such as the use of sniffer dog technology and modern narcotics detection tools.
Beyond narcotics control, the meeting examined broader technical cooperation with a specific focus on addressing cybercrimes, organized criminal fraud and financial crimes.
Naqvi offered Pakistan’s full support to Bangladesh regarding the implementation of the “Safe City” project by providing expertise in urban surveillance and security management systems. Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Imran Haider, was also present during the signing.
Muhammad Usman Hashmi is a researcher in International Relations, focusing on climate diplomacy, global governance, and political economy in the Global South. He has contributed to policy dialogues with the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia and serves as a Senior Research Fellow at the International Council on Human Rights, Peace and Politics. He is also associated with Rethinking Economics Islamabad, contributing to research on development and sustainability.
