Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong is scheduled to pay an official visit to Bangladesh on May 21-22 to strengthen their bilateral relationship with Bangladesh and find ways to boost cooperation for regional peace, prosperity and security. Issues related to promotion of trade and investment, sustainable and renewable energy production, Rohingya crisis, maritime security, technology transfer and free and open Indo-Pacific region are likely to be discussed during her visit, officials said here on Sunday. Penny Wong is likely to have a courtesy meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina apart from holding a bilateral meeting with her Bangladesh counterpart Hasan Mahmud, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UNB. A small delegation including Deputy Secretary, South and Southeast Asia Group and Head of the Office of Southeast Asia, in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Michelle Chan will accompany the Australian foreign minister, he said. The Australian minister is likely to visit the Rohingya camp during her visit to see the situation there. Bangladesh seeks Australia’s support in keeping the Rohingya issue alive globally with a view to the ultimate repatriation of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals sheltered in Bangladesh. Australia has a commitment to continue the humanitarian assistance for the Rohingyas and support Bangladesh in their repatriation effort. Wong was born in the Malaysian state of Sabah. Her family moved to Australia in 1976, when she was eight years old, and settled in Adelaide. The forthcoming visit by the Australian foreign minister demonstrates the country's growing interest in Bangladesh, an Australian diplomat told UNB. Earlier this month, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said he looks forward to working with PM Hasina to strengthen the bilateral relationship and together contribute to regional peace, prosperity and security. US wants to rebuild trust between Dhaka and Washington leaving behind tension: Lu “As Indian Ocean nations, we share an interest in a region that is grounded in sovereignty, promotes the prosperity and security of our citizens, and addresses the threat of climate change," he said in a letter written to PM Hasina congratulating on her reelection in January. The Australian PM highlighted the importance of their partnership in promoting "peace, prosperity and security" in the Indian Ocean. He affirmed his support for growing bilateral and regional cooperation between Australia and Bangladesh. “We have many common interests in increasing our trade and investment, promoting human rights, cooperating on people smuggling and addressing the Rohingya issue,” Albanese wrote. Bangladesh and Australia have already signed a framework agreement to open newer trade and investment opportunities between the two countries. The Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA), the first of this kind between Australia and Bangladesh in the last five decades, is expected to provide a platform for institutionalised economic interactions and open newer opportunities for trade and investment. In May last year, Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Tim Watts visited Bangladesh. During the visit he said Bangladesh and Australia work closely together to promote their shared interests in regional peace and security, and have a growing trade and investment relationship. Lu in Bangladesh: Sets politics aside, tries to reach out to people Welcoming Bangladesh’s Indo-Pacific Outlook, he said Australia seeks a region where “no country dominates, and no countries are dominated,” and the country thinks building a region like that requires efforts by all countries in the region. “We welcome the Bangladesh government’s Indo-Pacific Outlook in that context. I particularly welcome the point in the Indo-Pacific Outlook that argues for an inclusive region,” Watts said while responding to a question from UNB in a group session at that time. Australia recently sent a defence advisor to its High Commission in Dhaka, and, reciprocally, they welcome a defence advisor from Bangladesh in Australia. From Australia's perspective, the defence adviser is a symbol of their "intention and willingness" to cooperate on defence matters. The two countries are scheduled to hold the 5th Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) in Australia next month, said an official. The 4th FOC was held in Dhaka in March last year. The two-way trade now stands at around $4bn, reflecting Bangladesh’s significant economic growth and its highly complementary commercial strengths Donald Lu highlights importance of adaptation; protection of coastal people

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said although Bangladesh does not want war, it must attain capabilities to protect itself from external threats. The prime minister was addressing a programme marking the induction of two maritime patrol aircraft (MPA-8322 and MPA-8327) for Bangladesh Navy. Bangladesh Navy organised the event at Naval Aviation Hanger in Patenga, Chattogram while the PM joined virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban. Read more: None can chew up forex reserve, it’s for the people: PM Hasina Sheikh Hasina said that the government is preparing all institutions so that they can protect Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty. In this connection, she said that the government – after taking office in 2009 – transformed the Navy to a true three-dimensional force to protect the sea and the sky. “I believe that induction of these two patrol aircraft will strengthen Bangladesh Navy’s aviation capability manifold,” she said. The PM said that the government has also inducted two submarines – ‘BNS Navajatra’ and ‘BNS Joyjatra’ – in 2017. Work is underway to build a permanent submarine base at Pekua in Cox's Bazar to provide safe jetty facilities to submarines and warships at the harbour, she said. The PM said the construction work of ‘Sher-e-Bangla Base’ has progressed significantly to enhance the operational and communication facilities of naval vessels in the coastal areas of southwestern Bangladesh. She said the government has worked on various infrastructural developments and procurement of warships while strengthening the operational capacity of the existing ships. The government has started implementing the 'Forces Goal-2030' in light of the defence policy formulated by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she said. Read more: Payra Port has so far earned revenues worth over Tk 600cr: PM Hasina “Our Navy personnel are constantly ensuring the overall security of the maritime area by facing many natural challenges, which deserves appreciation,” the PM noted. She said the government has already incorporated a significant number of modern warships, helicopters, maritime patrol aircraft and submarines to the Bangladesh Navy with state-of-the-art combat equipment and technology. She also said that the construction of a second hangar with all modern facilities for operation and maintenance of helicopters and MPA is going on. Awami League government is working tirelessly for socioeconomic development of country apart of developing the armed forces, she said. She said that Bangladesh is now a global role model in development. The country has attained self-sufficiency in food production, she added. “But it is unfortunate that coronavirus and Ukraine-Russia war have negatively affected our pace of development,” she said. “But we with our own resources, land and manpower we will keep this country protected,” she expressed optimism. “We have to find a way to utilise our maritime resources and we have to put special focus on that,” the PM said. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal gave the vote of thanks. A short video clip on Naval Aviation was screened at the programme.