The 21st Intersessional Meeting on Counterterrorism and Transnational Crime of ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF ISM on CTTC) commenced today in Dhaka. Photo: MoFA

DHAKA, April 10, 2025 (BSS) - The two-day 21st Inter-sessional Meeting on 
Counterterrorism and Transnational Crime of ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF ISM on 
CTTC) concluded today in the capital. 

The Inter-sessional Meeting (ISM) discussed five priority areas including 
illicit drug, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Matters, 
Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, Trafficking in Persons and 
Border Security Management. 

It also discussed issues related to both conventional and unconventional 
sources of threat to national, regional and global peace and stability. 

Bangladesh as the co-chair of the ARF ISM on CTTC hosted the event in 
coordination with the other two co-chairing countries, the Philippines, and 
the United States, said a foreign ministry's press release here. 

The two day's meeting brought together diplomats, government officials, 
experts from the 27 participant countries of ARF. 

The 26th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and Post Ministerial Conference, which 
were held in Singapore on July 23-25 in 1993 agreed to establish the ASEAN 
Regional Forum (ARF) to foster constructive dialogue and consultation on 
political and security issues of common interest and concern. 

It also aims to make significant contributions to efforts towards confidence-
building and preventive diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific region. 

Bangladesh joined the ASEAN Regional Forum in 2006 and for the first time 
became co-chair of ARF ISM on Counterterrorism and Transnational Crime in 
2023.