The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal Sunday said an experts committee was asked to finalize a draft SAARC Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matter to help member states deal effectively with criminal activities.

The Adviser, who led the Bangladesh delegation to the just concluded SAARC Home Ministers meeting in New Delhi, told a press conference that the experts committee would finalize the draft in Colombo in next April.

The Home Ministers conference discussed various issues including drugs and human trafficking and reviewed progresses made by the SAARC Drug Offence Monitoring and the SAARC Terrorist Offence Monitoring desks.

The conference agreed to take decision about the formation of a SAARCPOL after further scrutiny. Nepal made the proposal for SAARCPOL at the 1st SAARC Home Ministers conference held in Dhaka last year. The next meeting of the SAARC Home Ministers Conference will be held in Pakistan in 2008.

The conference decided to hold the conference of SAARC police chiefs twice a year.

The 2nd SAARC Home Ministers conference in New Delhi began on Oct 23 and concluded on Oct 26. The Home Ministers conference was preceded by meetings of the SAARC Home Secretaries and SAARC police chiefs.