Australia’s High Commissioner (Acting) Nardiya Simpson met Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (retd.) on Wednesday (August 28) in his office at the Bangladesh Secretariat in the capital.
Various issues including counter-terrorism, prevention of human trafficking, police reforms, post-flood agricultural rehabilitation were discussed during the meeting.
In the meeting, the adviser said that the ongoing floods have damaged the agricultural sector in 22 districts of Bangladesh. He sought Australia’s cooperation in agricultural rehabilitation. The High Commissioner said that BRAC, the private development agency of Bangladesh, has been a long-time partner of Australia. We have provided necessary funds to BRAC for flood rehabilitation. Hopefully, they will start working soon.
The High Commissioner said, we believe in human rights and democratic values. Australia is keen to work more closely with Bangladesh in future on counter-terrorism, transnational crime, prevention of human trafficking etc. He said, as part of police reform, we are ready to provide necessary training and support to increase the capacity of the police. Moreover, Australia is willing to provide skills development and ancillary support through training in cyber security, immigration sector. Australia hopes that the current government’s efforts to protect human rights will continue. Adviser assures necessary cooperation in this regard.
First Secretary (Political) Anna Peterson of the Australian Embassy in Dhaka and senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs were present in the meeting.
