Australia鈥檚 home minister Tony Burke conveyed to chief adviser professor Muhammad Yunus about his country鈥檚 plan to bring its visa centre back to Dhaka and hold negotiations to prevent irregular migration between Bangladesh and Australia.
Tony Burke, also leader of the House of Australia, called on the chief adviser at the state guest house Jamuna on Thursday while professor Yunus urged the Australian government to regularise migrants and increase regular migration from Bangladesh.
During the meeting, the visiting Australian minister, the most high profile Australian official to have visited Bangla desh since the interim government took over, raised the issue of irregular migration from Bangladesh, saying his government would like to start negotiations over the matter.
Burke, who is also minister for arts, cyber security, immigration and multicultural affairs, said that they were considering an increased number of regular migrations from Bangladesh.
Professor Yunus thanked the minister for visiting Bangladesh at a crucial time of the country and supporting the interim government in its efforts to carry out much needed reforms.
Burke, whose constituency is home to a large number of Bangladeshi diaspora, said that he followed events in the country with much interest and witnessed their big celebrations after the fall of the dictatorial regime.
鈥楾here is a lot of optimism and hope,鈥� he said about the post revolution expectations.
The chief adviser admitted that the task of rebuilding the country was big since the dictatorship destroyed all institutions and the economy was in shambles.
鈥楾he challenges are big. Dealing with expectations is the most difficult part. But people are patient. We鈥檝e got to build the structures again,鈥� he said.
Bangladesh鈥檚 rich history, including the historic Language Movement also came up during the discussion. 鈥楾he seed of our independence came from this movement,鈥� Yunus said.
The chief adviser handed a copy of the Art of Triumph, a book on the graffiti and murals drawn on the walls of the cities and towns in the country during the mass uprising.
The Australian home minister appreciated the gift, saying he would visit some parts of the city to look at the arts himself.
Meanwhile, home adviser lieutenant general Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (retired) on the same day said that Australia would take more Rohingyas from Bangladesh.
鈥榃e鈥檝e talked about taking more Rohingyas to Australia. They鈥檝e already taken 2,000 Rohingyas and will take more. They鈥檝e given positive consent in this regard,鈥� he said.
The adviser revealed this at a media briefing after a ministerial level meeting between Bangladesh and Australia at secretariat, said a press release.
Home adviser led the Bangladesh side, while the Australian delegation was led by its home minister Tony Burke.
In the meeting, a memorandum of understanding on 鈥楥ivil Maritime Security & Maritime Safety鈥� was signed between Bangladesh and Australia.
Bangladesh coast guard director general rear admiral Mir Ershad Ali and Australian maritime border command commander rear admiral Brett Sonter put pen on the papers on behalf of their respective sides.
Tony Burke also held a bilateral meeting with foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain at the foreign ministry.
During the meeting, he said that his government was confident about Bangladesh鈥檚 efforts to mend the past and build a brighter future through effective reforms.
The foreign adviser apprised him of the reform initiatives taken for materialising the aspirations of the people, especially the young generation.
Both sides highlighted the burgeoning presence of Bangladeshi IT experts in the Australian outsourcing sector.