The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) jointly organized a national consultation on 30th August 2023. The consultation is aimed at developing a Cooperation Framework to identify key needs, priority areas in tackling organized crimes and the challenges associated with them. Foreign Secretary Ambassador Masud bin Momen inaugurated the national consultation as Chief Guest. The inauguration ceremony was also graced by the 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).
Foreign Secretary Ambassador Masud Bin Momen, in his remarks, underscored that our father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman envisioned a corruption-free, exploitation-free and hunger-free Sonar Bangla. He underscored Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s unwavering commitment to combat corruption, terrorism, violent extremism, abuses of drug, trafficking in persons and strengthen criminal justice response in her journey to materialize Bangabandhu’s vision.
Ambassador Momen 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 organized crimes”, he emphasized.
Senior Secretary of the Public Security Division, Secretary of the Law and Justice Division, and the Secretary of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), in their remarks, highlighted the actions and initiatives undertaken by the respective Ministries, Division and organization to tackle organized crimes in their respective areas. UN Resident Coordinator, in her remarks, underpinned that keeping pace with macro-economic development; the Government of Bangladesh doubled its efforts to tackle organized 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.