Today, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) hosted the fifth Senior Officials Talk between Bangladesh and Australia. The delegations on each side were led by Sarah Storey, First Assistant Secretary, South and Central Asia Division of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Md. Nazrul Islam, Additional Foreign Secretary (Bilateral-East & West). During the discussions, mission representatives from both nations as well as high-ranking government officials from pertinent agencies were present.
Development partnerships, sectoral cooperation, strategic and regional issues, migration issues, civil maritime cooperation, security and defence cooperation, and cooperation in multilateral fora were among the many topics discussed during the friendly, mutually understanding discussions.
Acknowledging Australia’s ongoing assistance with Bangladesh’s growth since gaining independence, Bangladesh requested technical and professional assistance from Australia in the areas of agriculture, education, energy, the blue economy, and information and communications technology. Bangladesh also called on Australia to take a more active part in trying to get the international community to apply political pressure on Myanmar in order to find a long-term solution to the Rohingya issue.
In addition to reaffirming Australia’s unwavering support for the existing interim administration, the Australian side asked Bangladesh for help in tackling challenges related to irregular migrants, human trafficking, smuggling, and transnational organised crime. The Australian delegation acknowledged Bangladesh’s economic and social progress while expressing a strong desire to collaborate with it more closely on matters of shared interest in the future.
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.
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