Diplomatic Desk:
Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Susan Ryle met with Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed at his office in the Ministry of Home Affairs at the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka on Wednesday (May 6, 2026).
The meeting discussed various issues related to mutual interests including law and order and security issues between the two countries, irregular migration, Rohingya issue, police training and capacity building, and mutual legal assistance (MLA).
The High Commissioner said that Bangladesh has had strong bilateral relations with Australia since independence. Australia was the first developed country to recognize Bangladesh. Currently, about one lakh Bangladeshis are living in Australia, of which about 28 thousand are students. As part of strengthening bilateral relations, the then Australian Home Minister Tony Berg visited Dhaka on October 30, 2024. The meeting also discussed the Australian cricket team’s tour of Bangladesh next June. The Minister briefed the High Commissioner on the restructuring of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
The Minister said, “I inherited a fragile law and order situation. However, the situation has improved considerably in the last two and a half months since assuming office. We want to establish the rule of law in the country.”
The High Commissioner expressed satisfaction with the increasing improvement in the law and order situation and expressed confidence in the Bangladesh government.
The Minister said that manpower recruitment and training programs have been taken to increase the capacity of the law and order forces. When asked to utilize Australia’s experience in this regard, the High Commissioner said that although there is no such program at present, they are considering the matter with great importance. In addition, the Minister mentioned that a proposal regarding Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) has been sent through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Stating that a joint working group of the two countries is working to prevent irregular and illegal migration, the High Commissioner said that Australia is working to increase awareness about regular migration.
The Minister welcomed the initiative and said that Bangladesh is also interested in increasing regular migration by sending skilled and educated manpower.
The Minister emphasized on increasing international assistance for the rehabilitation and improvement of the living standards of the Rohingya population. He made it clear that without a strong role from the international community, Bangladesh alone cannot bear the burden of this large population.
Referring to the first meeting of the National Committee on Security of Rohingya Camps on May 4, the Minister said that law enforcement agencies are active in combating drugs and crime in the camps.
The High Commissioner agreed to continue international funding and assistance on the Rohingya issue.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Minister welcomed the High Commissioner. The High Commissioner congratulated the Minister on assuming the new responsibility.
In the meeting, Additional Secretary of the Political Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed, Joint Secretary of Political-1 Branch Rebecca Khan, Deputy Secretary of Political-1 Branch Begum Minara Nazmin, and Australian High Commission’s Home Affairs Counselor Reuben Gray and First Secretary (Political) Harry Thompson were present.
