Speakers at a dialogue on ‘drugs and crimes’ on Wednesday vowed to resist drug abuse and terrorism through joint efforts to turn Bangladesh into a peaceful country.
They also laid emphasis on developing a cooperation framework to identify key needs, priority areas in tackling organised crimes and the challenges associated with them.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) jointly organised a national consultation yesterday.
Foreign Secretary Masud bin Momen inaugurated the discussion as chief guest.
Senior Secretary of the Public Security Division, the Secretary of the Law and Justice Division, Secretary of the Anti-Corruption Commission, UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC) and the Regional Representative of UNODC Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA) took part in the part in the discussion.
Masud Bin Momen said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman envisioned a corruption-free, exploitation-free and hunger-free Sonar Bangla.
“Therefore, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s firm determination to combat corruption, terrorism, violent extremism, abuses of drug, trafficking in persons and strengthen criminal justice will materialise
Bangabandhu’s vision,” he added.
He also underlined the need for further collaboration with regional and international partners to enhance capacity building, intelligence sharing, accountability of perpetrators and beneficiaries in combating human trafficking, corruption, drug trafficking and abuse, terrorism and violent extremism in all its manifestations.
“Enhanced collaboration and partnership will complement the robust efforts already undertaken by the government of Bangladesh to combat the organised crimes”, Masud Bin Momen added.
Echoing the same arguments other speakers at the dialogue said the actions and initiatives undertaken by the respective ministries, divisions and organisations to tackle organised crimes in their respective areas.
UN resident coordinator said that keeping pace with macro-economic development, the government of Bangladesh doubled its efforts to tackle organised crimes and associated challenges.
The regional representative of the UNODC South Asia applauded the strong partnership between the government of Bangladesh and UNODC.
He added that the Dhaka roadmap would be the first of its kind, which would take the partnership to a strategic level.
The cooperation framework dubbed ‘The Dhaka Roadmap’ will serve as the basis for future engagement, technical assistance, and cooperation between the government of Bangladesh and UNODC to respond to the needs and priorities related to the organized crimes prevention programmes of Bangladesh.