Bangladesh, China to deepen cooperation on cyber security

Bangladesh and China have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in cyber security, law enforcement, technical capacity building and training.

The issue came up during a meeting between Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen at the home ministry in Dhaka on Monday.

Yao, who is scheduled to complete his tenure in Bangladesh in early October, conveyed greetings from China's Minister of Public Security to the home minister. He also handed over an invitation from his Chinese counterpart for Salahuddin to visit China and attend a public security forum, where the two countries' home ministers could meet and discuss ways to expand bilateral cooperation.

During the meeting, both sides stressed the importance of enhancing technological capabilities to maintain law and order and combat cybercrime.

Yao said China had provided training over the past two years to more than 100 Bangladeshi law enforcement personnel on cybercrime, public security management, traffic and transportation management, immigration and UN peacekeeping operations.

The home minister thanked China for the support and said the government was taking steps to establish a specialised Cyber Security Unit for the police.

He said plans were also being implemented to establish digital forensic and cyber laboratories at different levels, from police stations and district and divisional units to the central level.

The Chinese ambassador suggested sending a team of Chinese experts to Bangladesh and facilitating visits to Chinese cyber laboratories to share technical expertise and experience in combating cybercrime.

In response, Salahuddin said Bangladesh would send a five-member high-level delegation to China, led by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The delegation will include an additional inspector general of police, an additional deputy inspector general and police officials specialising in cyber security and digital forensics.

The team will study China's cyber laboratories and technologies and prepare specific proposals for establishing forensic laboratories and procuring necessary equipment in Bangladesh.

Yao also said China is currently one of Bangladesh's major development partners and top sources of investment. He requested the home minister to ensure the security of Chinese nationals, businesspeople and investors working in Bangladesh.

Salahuddin said China was not only a major investor but also one of Bangladesh's key strategic development partners.

He reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Chinese nationals, businesspeople and personnel working on development projects in Bangladesh.

Inspector General of Police Md Ali Hossain Fakir, Additional IGP and CID chief Barrister Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain, and Additional Secretary of the Political and Immigration Wing of the Home Ministry Dr Ziauddin Ahmed, among others, were present at the meeting.