Date:29/03/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/03/29/stories/2009032959620400.htm

New Delhi

India offers to train Bangladesh officials

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: India offered to train drug law enforcement officials of Bangladesh at the first Director-General level talks between the nodal enforcement agencies of the two countries that ended here on Thursday.

The two-day conference was a follow-up to a bilateral agreement in 2006 between the two governments to prevent trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, and as per a decision taken at the ninth Bangladesh-India Home Secretary level talks in Dhaka last August.

The Indian delegation was led by Narcotics Control Bureau Director-General O.P.S. Malik and the Bangladesh delegation by Department of Narcotics Control Director-General Mohammad Humayun Kabir.

In a joint statement, the two sides acknowledged the efforts of both countries in fighting drug trafficking and appreciated the need for enhanced mutual cooperation and regular interaction between the drug law enforcement agencies of the two countries.

They also discussed issues related to the drug situation in the two countries and shared their experiences in the field of supply and demand of drugs.

The two sides agreed to continue with the Director-General level talks on an annual basis alternately in both countries.