Police chiefs of SAARC countries decide to form SAARCPOL

The police chiefs of SAARC countries Tuesday decided to form SAARCPOL (SAARC Police) like Interpol (International Police Organisation) to strengthen cooperation and help curb trans-border crimes among the member states.

bdnews24.com
Published : 8 May 2006, 12:00 PM
Updated : 8 May 2006, 12:00 PM
Dhaka, May 9 (BDNEWS) – The police chiefs of SAARC countries Tuesday decided to form SAARCPOL (SAARC Police) like Interpol (International Police Organisation) to strengthen cooperation and help curb trans-border crimes among the member states.
The decision was taken at the daylong fifth conference of the police chiefs of the member countries of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation at a city hotel.
Emerging from the meeting, Abdul Qaiyum, Inspector General (IG) of police of Bangladesh, at a briefing said, "After examining the pros and cons of the SAARCPOL, the experts would prepare the concept paper of the organisation and would finalise it at the sixth conference of the SAARC police chiefs scheduled to be held in India."
The IGP of Bangladesh said, the proposal to form the SAARCPOL would be submitted at the home secretary-level meeting Wednesday.
The IGP, however, said that it would take time to give a final shape to the SAARCPOL.
"Actually, we examined the decisions taken at the fourth conference held at Islamabad earlier," Quiyum added.
He said, the police chiefs agreed on sharing of knowledge, training, technique, police reform and modern equipment among the member countries.
"The meeting also emphasised on enhancing the efficacy of the police personnel of the SAARC countries," the IGP said adding: We would visit each country and also would hold series of workshops.
Earlier, the Home Secretary Safar Raj Hossain inaugurated the daylong conference in the morning highlighting eight agendas, including establishing of networking arrangements, organised crimes, abuse of drugs and terrorism, money laundering and its law, and exchange of specialised and general training-techniques and technology.
The IGP said Bangladesh police have two desks to monitor drugs and terrorism related matters.
"But we could not monitor trans-border terrorism properly," The IGP said adding: We would hold expert-level workshops to find out ways and means to combat terrorism.
Abdul Qaiyum led a 10-member Bangladesh delegation at the conference while VK Joshi, Director General of Bureau of Police Research of India, led a four-member team.
The Bhutanese three-member delegation was led by Training and Staff Development Officer Major Lody Jamstho while the Maldives represented by Ibrahim Latheef, Deputy Commissioner of Police Service.
Moreover, Muhammad Shoaib Suddle, Director General of National Police Bureau of Ministry of Interior of Pakistan led his country's five-member delegation, Chandra Fernando, Inspector General of Police of Sri Lanka led a four-member side for his country and Amar Sing Shah, Additional Inspector General of Police of Nepal, led a two-member team on behalf of his country.
Secretary general of SAARC Chenkyab Dorji also joined the conference.
BDNEWS/2007 hrs

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