Bangladesh welcomes UNODC technical cooperation in key areas

23 March 2017 - During the recent visit of Mr. Sergey Kapinos the UNODC Representative of South Asia, the Government of Bangladesh welcomed UNODC's assistance in a number of areas including specially counter-terrorism, human trafficking and drug control. Mr. Kapinos who was on his maiden visit to Bangladesh as the UNODC Representative of South Asia also presented his credentials to the Foreign Minister Mr. Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali at the latter's office and solicited the support of the Government of Bangladesh particularly the Foreign Minister to address the priority areas in the UNODC Regional Program for the period of 2018-2021

The Foreign Minister Mr. Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali expressed his government's deep appreciation for UNODC efforts in Bangladesh. Mr. Kapinos who was visiting Bangladesh from March 20-23, 2017 was also present during the inaugural session of the workshop on "Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism in Bangladesh" and gave a key note address on the occasion. The workshop was organized jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNODC. Md. Shahidul Haque, Foreign Secretary and Dr. Kamal Uddin Ahmed, Secretary, Public Security Division, Ministry of Home Affairs inaugurated the workshop at UNCLOS conference room of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Kapinos also met other senior government and donor interlocutors on various priority issues and mandates of UNODC and to discuss potential projects. He impressed upon the importance of addressing the criminal and judicial justice system reform, police reform, prison reform areas, for which UNODC has the specific niche and expertise to offer to the member states. He accentuated how such approaches have proven effective in many other countries, even in South and South East Asia. He offered UNODC assistance in this regard and mentioned the effective implementation of Nelson Mandela Rule, as gold standard of Prison reform.

Mr. Kapinos accentuated that UNODC is the custodian of UN conventions and protocols of Transnational Organized Crime, and Convention Against Corruption. In bilateral meetings with senior decision makers and development partners he also discussed on the recent phenomenon of radicalization and violent extremism together with other organized crimes including money laundering - an emerging challenge that needs collaborative action from all stakeholders together with UNODC.