Chief Adviser (CA) Prof Muhammad Yunus has expressed his gratitude to the Australian government for restarting its visa processing services in Dhaka.
His remarks came during a meeting with Susan Ryle, the newly appointed Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, at the State Guest House Jamuna today.
During the meeting, High Commissioner Ryle shared that visa applications can now be submitted online. She mentioned that over 65,000 Bangladeshi nationals currently reside in Australia, including around 14,000 students.
The discussions also covered a range of key issues, including the Interim Government’s reform initiatives, preparations for the upcoming national elections, bilateral trade relations, and the ongoing Rohingya crisis.
“We are undergoing a number of important changes following a period of instability,” said Prof Yunus, outlining the reform agenda of his administration.
He highlighted that their efforts are focused on reforms to the constitution, judiciary, and administration—elements he described as essential for building a stronger Bangladesh. “We are engaging with all political parties to ensure a peaceful transition, and next month, we will introduce the July Charter on the anniversary of the historic July uprising,” the Chief Adviser noted.
Speaking about the upcoming national election, Prof Yunus said that for the first time in years, citizens—particularly first-time voters—will get a genuine chance to vote freely. He expressed hope that it would be a positive and celebratory event.
In support of the electoral process, High Commissioner Ryle announced that Australia would provide AUD 2 million through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to help strengthen the institutional, technical, and operational capacity of Bangladesh’s Election Commission.
On trade, she informed that bilateral trade between the two countries has now reached AUD 5 billion, growing at an average annual rate of 16.2% over the past five years.
She also spoke about the valuable contributions made by Bangladeshi students and members of the diaspora in Australia. The High Commissioner mentioned that the Australia Awards programme has created a network of over 3,000 Bangladeshi alumni who are now actively contributing to national development.
In response, Prof Yunus encouraged the Australian side to expand the number of scholarships available to Bangladeshi students.
Turning to the Rohingya issue, Prof Yunus appealed to Australia to increase its humanitarian support for the one million Rohingya refugees currently living in Bangladesh.
In reply, High Commissioner Ryle reaffirmed her country’s commitment, saying that Australia recently allocated an additional AUD 9.6 million in humanitarian assistance through key partners. She added that, since 2017, Australia has provided AUD 553.6 million in aid for both Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh.
“Australia will continue to stand with Bangladesh to ensure the hope of the Rohingya people for safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable repatriation when conditions in Myanmar allow,” she stated.
Ryle also shared her excitement about her new diplomatic assignment in Bangladesh. “I am truly happy to be here. I have long admired Bangladesh’s rich culture and dynamic political environment,” she said.
The meeting was also attended by Senior Secretary and SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, as well as Mohammed Nore-Alam, Director General of the East Asia & Pacific Wing at Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
MSK/
