Thailand has agreed to a Bangladesh proposal to sign an instrument on security cooperation to combat human trafficking and terrorism.
The two sides reached the agreement while Bangladesh Ambassador to Thailand Saida Muna Tasneem met Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan in his office yesterday.
The Bangladesh ambassador stressed the need for establishing a bilateral security forum between the neighbours to address the menace of transnational crimes including human trafficking, drug smuggling and terrorism, said a press release.
“On the proposal of creating a forum to combat transnational crimes including human trafficking and terrorism, the Thai Deputy PM and Defence Minister proposed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Bangladesh at the earliest,” the release added.
General Prawit expressed his country’s strong resolve to work closely with Bangladesh and assured that Thailand “is more than ready” to cooperate with Bangladesh towards greater defence and security cooperation.
He expressed Thailand’s interest to invite the chiefs of the three services of Bangladesh at the earliest mutual convenience.
It was also agreed that Thai Navy Cadet training ships would pay goodwill calls at Bangladesh ports while the two air forces would explore scope for joint exercises specially in the context of peace exercises as peacekeeping countries at the UN.
The Bangladesh envoy also proposed cooperation between the two countries in the area of peacekeeping as well as higher learning opportunities for Bangladesh Army Corps in Thailand’s Mahidol University and in Bangkok Hospital.
Thailand’s Deputy Defence Minister and senior officials of the Defence Ministry were present at the meeting.
