Australia and Bangladesh Boost Bilateral Cooperation

Australia and Bangladesh continue to strengthen their close bilateral relationship, marked by high-level visits and increasing cooperation on critical issues. In the past 12 months, two senior Australian government ministers visited Bangladesh. Foreign Minister Penny Wong visited in May 2024, followed by Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil in November 2024.

Last week, Home Affairs Minister O'Neil held a positive discussion with Home Adviser Chowdhury on bilateral cooperation concerning regular and irregular migration. Further announcements from the Australian side are expected soon.

Ensuring lawful migration pathways between the two nations is vital for shared prosperity. Over 65,000 Bangladeshi nationals currently live and work in Australia, making valuable contributions to the economy while sending regular remittances back home. This mutually beneficial relationship underscores the importance of safe and legal migration.

Authorities emphasize that legal migration is the only secure way to enter and remain in Australia. People smuggling remains a serious transnational crime, where criminal networks exploit vulnerable individuals with false promises, resulting in dangerous journeys by sea. Many victims suffer financial ruin or even lose their lives.

Such transnational crimes can only be tackled through close international cooperation. Australia has long prioritized building strong law enforcement relationships with regional partners, including Bangladesh. Both countries are firmly committed to eradicating people smuggling, investigating, and prosecuting those responsible, aiming to protect innocent lives.

In addition to combating people smuggling, Australia and Bangladesh are enhancing cooperation on civil maritime security and safety. Efforts also target a broader range of transnational crimes, such as drug smuggling, illegal foreign fishing, and maritime people smuggling.

Deputy Commander of the Joint Agency Task Force, Mark Whitechurch, is currently in Dhaka to advance cooperation on civil maritime security and irregular migration. This is his second visit in a month. However, due to operational sensitivities, Australia maintains its long-standing policy of not disclosing specific methodologies used in countering people smuggling to avoid aiding criminal networks.

The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) signed by both nations remains confidential. Further information on lawful migration options is available on the Department of Home Affairs website. Bangladeshis seeking to migrate to Australia benefit from high-quality visa processing services, with nearly all visa applications now accessible online. This digital system ensures a convenient and efficient process for visitor, student, skilled, partner, and other temporary visas.

As both nations continue to enhance cooperation, the focus remains on safeguarding human lives, ensuring security, and promoting legal migration channels for a prosperous future.