Deal signed with Washington to trace groups hostile to US

Software to be installed at ports to track down terrorists

Bangladesh yesterday signed a memorandum of intent (MoI) with the United States to protect American interests in the country and extend full cooperation to the US in identifying individuals or groups suspected of working against US interests.

Home ministry officials declining to disclose details of the memo said the agreement makes it binding on the government to take care of every single US interest including protection of US citizens and installations.

Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca and Home Secretary Omar Farooq yesterday signed the MoI that provides for installation of the PISCES (Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System), a sophisticated computer software to document passengers travelling into and out of the country and check movement of suspected terrorists.

In exchange, the US will help Bangladesh to develop a computer database for use at airports and seaports for immigration purposes.

State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar, US Ambassador in Dhaka Harry K Thomas and home ministry officials were present during the signing of the MoI at the home ministry.

Ministry sources said the renewable agreement will remain valid for five years. The relevant aspects of the PISCES will immediately become operational at Zia International Airport (ZIA) and be later expanded to cover all land, sea and airports in the country.

According to the US State Department website and a US embassy press release, PISCES is a part of the US Department of State's Terrorist Interdiction Program (TIP), which seeks to tighten the noose at key terrorist transit points world-wide.

PISCES is tailored to each country's specific needs, which provides border control officials at these transit points with information that allows them to identify and detain or track 'individuals of interest'. It also increases capacity to collect, compare, and analyze traveler data, mainly to stem the flow of terrorists, weapons and illegal funds.

"PISCES data can be used to quickly and accurately identify and intercept individuals suspected of illegal activity … PISCES can be used in the interdiction of narcotics and other forms of smuggling as well," said the press release.

The US government will provide hardware, software and training assistance for development of database information system under the scheme. Immigration authorities at ZIA presently use a locally developed computer database.

A home ministry press release last night said, "The scheme has been designed for enabling Bangladesh government to detect and monitor entry and exit of undesirable persons within the country's borders. It has been taken up in the national interest of Bangladesh for enabling the country's law enforcers to check trans-boundary crimes and terrorism."

Earlier, the US embassy prepared the draft agreement and sent it to the ministry.

Rocca also called on the state minister for home affairs at his office yesterday and discussed matters of mutual interest including proposal for US assistance in the field of police reforms and training.

They also discussed possible US assistance in setting up a forensic and DNA laboratory for the Criminal Investigation Department and procurement of patrol boats for the Coastguard.

Let's hope that PISCES does not get used in other freedom infringing purposes than its official goal that is to capture the terrorists. There should be an independent overseer on these newly implemented procedures to make sure that it is not used to abuse innocent civilians, political opposition groups and minorities for the purpose of harassment, exploitation and intimidation.