The
agreements signed between Bangladesh and India during the Prime Minister's
recent visit to India can be scrapped by any side with a six-month advance
written notification.
"All the three agreements will be effective after the ratification by both
the two countries. The agreements can be scrapped on six months' advance notice
by either side," Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes said this while briefing
reporters at the ministry yesterday.
He said Bangladesh and India would form a joint coordination committee with
representatives of law-enforcing agencies and intelligence wings of both the
countries for coordinated action to combat international terrorism, organised
crime and cross-border drug trade.
Under the agreement on Combating International Terrorism, Organised Crime and
Illicit Drug Trafficking, the two countries are subject to follow their
domestic laws and rules, and assist each other in preventing international
terrorism, resisting smuggling of drugs and chemical products, he said.
Responding to a question, the Foreign Secretary said that anything that may
hamper any country's sovereignty and security or contradict existing laws and
rules of any country would not come under the purview of this agreement. On
Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between Bangladesh and India, the Foreign
Secretary S said a convention on this issue was signed by the SAARC member
states during the SAARC Summit in Colombo in 2008.
