Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Susan Ryle paid a courtesy call on Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday afternoon, discussing a wide range of matters of mutual interests.
Law and order, security cooperation, irregular migration, the Rohingya crisis, police training and capacity building, and Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) were among the topics that were discussed at the meeting.
The High Commissioner mentioned that Australia and Bangladesh have shared a strong bilateral relationship since independence, highlighting that Australia was among the first developed nations to recognise Bangladesh.
Currently, approximately 100,000 Bangladeshis reside in Australia, including around 28,000 students.
As part of efforts to strengthen bilateral ties, the then Australian Home Minister, Tony Burke, visited Dhaka on October 30, 2024.
The meeting also touched upon the Australian cricket team's upcoming visit to Bangladesh in June.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed informed the High Commissioner of the ongoing restructuring activities of theBangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
"I inherited a fragile law-and-order situation. However, since taking office two and a half months ago, the situation has improved significantly. We are committed to establishing the rule of law in the country," he said.
Susan Ryle expressed satisfaction with the steady improvement of law and order and reaffirmed Australia’s confidence in the Bangladesh government.
Salahuddin mentioned that manpower recruitment and training programmes have been initiated to enhance the capacity of law enforcement agencies.
When he urged Australian expertise in this regard, the High Commissioner stated that while such programmes are not currently in place, they are considering the matter with great importance.
The Home Minister noted that a proposal regarding Mutual Legal Assistance has been forwarded through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Regarding the prevention of irregular and illegal migration, Susan Ryle said a Joint Working Group from both countries is active, and Australia is working to raise awareness about regular migration.
Welcoming this initiative, Salahuddin expressed Bangladesh's interest in increasing regular migration by sending skilled and educated manpower.
He emphasised the need for increased international assistance for the rehabilitation and improvement of the living standards of the Rohingya population.
The Home Minister made it clear that it is not possible for Bangladesh to bear the burden of this massive population alone without a robust role from the international community.
Referring to the first meeting of the National Committee on Rohingya Camp Security held on May 4, he stated that law enforcement agencies are active in curbing drugs and crime within the camps.
The High Commissioner agreed on the necessity of continuing international funding and support for the Rohingya issue.
Additional Home Secretary Dr Ziauddin Ahmed, Joint Secretary Rebeka Khan and Deputy Secretary Begum Minara Nazmin, along with Reuben Gray, Home Affairs Counsellor of the Australian High Commission in Dhaka, and Harry Thompson, First Secretary (Political), were also present.