Australia has announced an additional fund of A$5 million or Tk 330 million t to support Bangladesh’s COVID-19 preparedness and response, the country’s envoy said on Saturday.  Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne has made the announcement, according to Australian High Commission in Dhaka Jeremy Bruer.  This fund will be given through the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to procure and distribute essential supplies, including oxygen and related equipment, to help communities withstand the health and social impact of the pandemic, said the high commissioner. The money is in addition to the A$5.7 million Australia provided last year to Bangladesh for personal protective equipment, COVID-19 awareness campaigns, and emergency food and income support. Australia said it is also working to increase the global supply of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, including through an A$80 million commitment to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment, of which Bangladesh is a beneficiary. High Commissioner Jeremy Bruer said, "As one of Bangladesh's oldest friends, Australia is committed to supporting Bangladesh in its fight against COVID-19, to help ensure our shared region remains safe, stable, prosperous and resilient.  Australia and our partners stand with Bangladesh in responding to the pandemic.”

Twenty emerging leaders from various sectors in Bangladesh have been selected to receive the "Australia Awards Scholarships" to study master’s degrees at Australia’s world-class universities.

The Australian High Commission in Dhaka on Monday sought  proposals to support COVID-19 economic recovery in Bangladesh under the Business Partnerships Platform (BPP).

The Chinese Embassy and Australian High Commission in Dhaka have expressed deep shock at the loss of lives in explosions at a mosque in Narayanganj.

The Australian government has announced changes to international student visa arrangements, including recommencing granting student visas lodged outside Australia.

A non-scheduled Sri Lankan Airlines flight left here for Australia on Wednesday with 182 Australians and their families on board.

Australian High Commission in Dhaka has said they are considering a third special flight from Bangladesh to help Australian citizens return home.

A non-scheduled Sri Lanka Airlines flight left Dhaka for Melbourne with 220 Australian citizens along with their families early Saturday.    The special flight also carried eight New Zealand citizens and permanent residents on their way back to New Zealand.    Together with 285 passengers who departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on April 16, over 500 have so far returned home to Australia, said the Australian High Commission in Dhaka.    The High Commission said they, for the second time in three weeks, helped Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate families to return to Australia.  

The Australian High Commission in Dhaka has said they are assessing the viability of a second non-scheduled commercial flight from Dhaka to Melbourne.

The Australian government has made a number of changes to temporary-visa-holder arrangements in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic to make it easier for Bangladeshi and other international students to continue their studies in Australia should they wish to do so.