Saturday, May 6 2006 14:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dhaka: Terrorism and trafficking of humans and drugs will be discussed for the first time by home ministers of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries during their meeting here on May 11.

To be opened by Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, the SAARC chairperson, the meeting will take up 'issues of common interest', the Bangladesh Observer reported.

The region has witnessed the spread of terrorism as is evident from events post the Sep 9, 2001, terror attacks on the US and each government would like to report on what it is doing to curb such incidents since they also impinge upon bilateral relations among immediate neighbours.

The issue of human and drug trafficking is also important since illegal migration has become an issue in India-Bangladesh relations. South Asia is in the midst of the drug trail with two major drug-producing centres Afghanistan at the western end and Myanmar in the east.

The conference will be preceded by the first meeting of the SAARC home secretaries in the '5th SAARC Conference on Cooperation in Police Matters'.

The member countries will also hold bilateral talks on the sidelines of the meeting to resolve issues of common interest.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia signed the Agreement for Mutual Cooperation for Preventing Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and Related Matters during her state visit to India March 20-22 this year.

During the 13th SAARC summit in Dhaka last year, the member states condemned terrorist violence in all forms and manifestations and called for effective mechanism for implementation of the SAARC Convention on Suppression of Terrorism.