Diplomatic Correspondent

Bangladesh and Australia have stressed effective initiatives from both sides for facilitating regular and safe migration.

Australia has underscored the need for containing "irregular migration" while promoting safe and regular migration and Bangladesh agreed with Australia's position.

The issue was discussed at a bilateral meeting held between Australian Minister for Home Affairs, Arts, Cyber Security, Immigration and Multicultural Affairs & Leader of the House of Australia Tony Burke and Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.

Adviser Hossain thanked Tony Burke 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, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Both sides highlighted the burgeoning presence of Bangladeshi IT experts in the Australian outsourcing sector.

Tony Burke 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.

Hossain 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.

He 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," said the Adviser.

Amongst others, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Australia M Allama Siddiki and Director General (East Asia & Pacific) Mohammed Nore-Alam were present in the meeting.