Australia Reaffirms Support for Bangladesh’s Democratic Future

Nardia Simpson, the Acting High Commissioner of Australia to Bangladesh, reaffirmed her country's commitment to supporting a democratic and inclusive future for all Bangladeshis during her first meeting with Foreign Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain at the Foreign Ministry today.

The Foreign Adviser welcomed Simpson and highlighted the shared values between Bangladesh and Australia, including a commitment to democracy, human rights, peace, and prosperity.

He noted the student-led mass movement in Bangladesh during July-August 2024, aimed at improving governance, and reiterated the government's pledge to implement necessary reforms across various institutions in line with this objective.

Simpson offered her condolences for the loss of lives and property during the recent unrest. She acknowledged the role of the Foreign Ministry and other agencies in ensuring the safety of foreign missions based in Dhaka.

She emphasised the significance of the relationship between the two countries and referred to the recent visit of Australian Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong to Bangladesh in May 2024.

The Foreign Adviser stressed the need to enhance cooperation in political engagement, trade, investment, human resource development, and people-to-people connections. He also highlighted the potential for increased enrolment of Bangladeshi students in Australia, suggesting the streamlining of student visa processes.

He assured that Bangladesh does not support irregular migration and is prepared to cooperate in returning its irregular nationals from Australia through established procedures.

The Adviser expressed gratitude for Australia’s continued support for the Rohingya population in Bangladesh and pointed out the increased security risks in the region due to the ongoing crisis. He also stressed the need for greater international pressure on Myanmar to facilitate the repatriation process, which he identified as the ultimate resolution to the protracted crisis.