Newly appointed Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, H.E. Susan Jane Ryle paid a courtesy call on the Foreign Secretary Ambassador Md. Jashim Uddin at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday (17 February 2025). Foreign Secretary congratulated her on assuming the new role and assured of full support and cooperation during her tenure in Bangladesh. The High Commissioner reaffirmed Australia’s strong commitment to deepening bilateral ties with Bangladesh and emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration in the areas of trade, investment, development and people-to-people connections. Both sides agreed to expanding bilateral trade.
The Foreign Secretary shed light on the ongoing reform initiatives of the interim government and the recent formation of a consensus commission and under its auspices the inauguration of dialogue with the political parties of the country.
Regarding Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (The Rohingyas), the Foreign Secretary thanked Australian government for its continued humanitarian assistance and emphasized that recent developments in Rakhine State have intensified pressure on Bangladesh. The Foreign Secretary briefed about the upcoming conference on the Rohingya issue, which Bangladesh is planning to organize in collaboration with the United Nations, aiming to restore global attention and push for a sustainable solution to this crisis.
Both sides underscored the importance of enhancing collaboration between Bangladesh’s Technical Training Centres (TTCs) and Australia’s Technical and Further Education (TAFE) ensuring mutual recognition of degrees and upgrading technical education standards to enable the mobility of the skilled workforce. The Foreign Secretary sought Australia’s consideration in reopening the Australian Visa Processing Centre in Dhaka to facilitate easier travel.
On climate action, the Foreign Secretary reaffirmed that Bangladesh aligns with Australia’s climate goals and highlighted Bangladesh’s global leadership in climate diplomacy. The High Commissioner expressed gratitude for the support extended by the Ministry to her and conveyed Australia’s continued commitment to deepening bilateral ties.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both sides expressing optimism that Bangladesh-Australia relations will continue to grow, reaching new heights in the coming years.
