Bangladesh, Australia keen to deepen cooperation

Bangladesh and Australia have shown keen interest in deepening cooperation on development partnerships, strategic and regional issues with the spirit of mutual understanding.

The interest was reflected at the Fifth Senior Officials Talks between Bangladesh and Australia held today at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of Australia in Canberra, according to a foreign ministry press release issued in Dhaka this evening. 

Bangladesh Foreign Ministry’s Additional Foreign Secretary (Bilateral-East & West) Md. Nazrul Islam and Australian South and Central Asia Division under Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade First Assistant Secretary Sarah Storey led the delegations of their respective sides.

High-level government officials of relevant departments along with mission officials of both countries were also present during the talks.

The discussion also covered a wide array of issues, including sectoral cooperation, migration issues, civil maritime cooperation, security and defense cooperation, and cooperation in multilateral fora.

Bangladesh urged Australia to play a more proactive role in pursuing a global community to put collective political pressure on Myanmar for an enduring solution to the Rohingya problem.

Recognising Australia’s continued support in Bangladesh’s development efforts since independence, Bangladesh sought technical and expert support from Australia in its agriculture, education, energy, blue economy, and ICT sectors.

Reiterating Australia’s steadfast support for the current interim government, the Canberra side sought Dhaka’s assistance in addressing irregular migrant issues, handling of people smuggling and trafficking in persons, as well as transnational organised crimes.

While appreciating Bangladesh’s economic and social development, Australian delegation expressed its keen interest in working more closely with Bangladesh on issues of mutual interest in the days to come.

Climate change featured prominently in the talks, with both countries reaffirming their commitment to addressing global environmental challenges.

Australia acknowledged Bangladesh’s vulnerability to climate impacts and pledged continued support for Bangladesh’s climate adaptation and resilience efforts.

Regional and global issues of mutual interest, including Indo-Pacific outlook, counter-terrorism, and multilateral cooperation, were also on the agenda.

The talks reflected the shared commitment to upholding peace, security, and prosperity in the region.

The officials expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the bilateral relationship and identified areas for further collaboration.

They reiterated their dedication to strengthening ties and working together to address shared challenges.

Both sides underscored the importance of regular exchange of visits, including at the highest level, as well as regular contacts and interaction between leaders and officials, to take forward bilateral cooperation to a new level.

The next round of senior officials’ talks will be held in Dhaka in 2025.