Staff Correspondent

Home Adviser Lieutenant General Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd.) today said the signing of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) between Bangladesh and Australia marked as a milestone to prevent unlawful migration and human trafficking alongside strengthening bilateral relationship and partnership between the countries.

"This agreement marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to combat unlawful migration and human trafficking, reinforcing the strong and enduring partnership between our two nations," he said at the SOP signing ceremony at the Home Ministry here.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam and Commander of the Australian Border Force, Mark Whitechurch signed the SOP on behalf of Bangladesh and Australia respectively.

The Home Adviser said that unlawful migration and human trafficking pose serious global challenges, jeopardizing the principles of safe, orderly and legal migration.

"These issues not only endanger countless lives but also threaten the integrity of skill-based and legal migration channels," he said.

The Government of Bangladesh remains steadfast in its commitment to eradicating these grave concerns, he added.

"We are actively implementing stringent measures to prevent dangerous and life-threatening journeys, ensuring that every Bangladeshi citizen has access to a secure and dignified migration pathway," he said.

This initiative represents a remarkable step forward in strengthening our bilateral relations and addressing migration challenges with a shared vision of security, prosperity and human dignity, he opined.

He also extended his sincere gratitude to the government of Australia for taking decision on processing visa application in Dhaka.

It will help Bangladeshi Citizens to get Australian visa without further delay, he said.

"I hope that such strong bilateral cooperation will continue in future. Let us continue our collective efforts to eradicate unlawful migration and human trafficking, ensuring a future where migration is safe, legal and beneficial for all," he concluded.

Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs Nasimul Ghani and Australian High commissioner Susan Ryle, were present, among others.