Hon Tony Burke MP, the Minister for Home Affairs, Arts, Cyber Security, Immigration and Multicultural Affairs and Leader of the House of Australia and the Hon’ble Advisor for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh Mr. Md. Touhid Hossain, had a bilateral meeting on Thursday (31 October, 2024) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Foreign Affairs Advisor thanked the Australian Minister for his visit to Bangladesh. He talked about the background and spirit of the students-led mass upsurge that installed this Interim Government and apprised him of the reform initiatives undertaken by the current Government to materialize the aspirations of the people, especially the young generation. Tony Burke MP mentioned that the Bangladeshi community in Australia and in particular in his electorate had strong support for the student-led movement in Bangladesh. He exuded his Government’s confidence about Bangladesh’s efforts to mend the past and build a brighter future through effective reforms.
The Australian Home Minister underscored the need for containing irregular migration while promoting safe and regular migration. Foreign Affairs Advisor agreed with his position and stressed on effective initiatives from both the sides for facilitating regular migration.
Foreign Affairs Advisor thanked Hon Tony Burke MP for extending his support and cooperation to the Bangladeshi diaspora in Australia. Bangladesh is keen to work with Australia for promoting growing bilateral trade, enhanced student enrollment in Australian institutions. Both sides highlighted the burgeoning presence of Bangladeshi IT experts in the Australian outsourcing sector.
Foreign Affairs Advisor acknowledged Australia’s continued moral and material contributions to the Rohingya population sheltered in Bangladesh and called for enhanced pressure from international community on Myanmar for a sustainable solution of the crisis. ‘Only solution to the problem is the return of Rohingyas to their homeland in a safe environment. If not addressed, it could trigger problem with implication for the wider region and by extension for the world’ – he stated.
Amongst others, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Australia M. Allama Siddiki and Director General (East Asia & Pacific) Mohammed Nore-Alam were present in the meeting.
