WE commend the pledge made by the BIMSTEC countries at a recently concluded high-level meeting to launch a joint offensive against terrorism and transnational crime. Terrorism and much of the crime that plagues the region is fundamentally transnational in character, and thus it is only a multilateral regional approach that can offer any hope of resolution.

There are many advantages to the proposed cooperation, both for the region in general and with respect to some of our principal concerns here in Bangladesh in particular.

Whether we are talking about the trafficking of women and children or the scourge of firearms and bombs or illegal smuggling or drug trafficking—most if not all of the serious crime that bedevils the authorities either originates from outside the country or has significant linkages outside.

There is a limit to what our lawenforcement authorities can accomplish on their own when it comes to investigating and apprehending terrorists and criminals. It is for this reason that we should welcome all the assistance we can get from outside. In addition to access to greater information with respect to the sources of much of the crime that is committed in the country, we can also benefit from the better training, experience, and technological expertise of law enforcement officials and agencies in the region.

Indeed, to the extent that greater regional cooperation can help to contain violent crime, and can also effectively counter the many insurgencies that are operating in the region, we will all benefit from the greater regional stability and security.

The other main benefit of the proposed initiative is that it advances the cause of regional cooperation in all other sectors. If we can cooperate on such sensitive matters that affect national security, then this shows that we can cooperate in other crucial areas as well.

The fact that Bangladesh and India are both parties to the pledge is very encouraging. The two countries have traded accusations with respect to alleged insurgency camps in Bangladesh and alleged criminal hide-outs in India for some time now, to say nothing of other hot-button issues such as arms smuggling and illegal migration.

Now, perhaps the two countries can join hands to get to the bottom of things. A cooperative approach will hopefully help both countries satisfy their concerns. But more importandy such cooperation will help create an atmosphere of trust and mutual confidence which has been sorely missing lately.