'Australia will continue duty-free benefits on Bangladeshi products'

Foreign Minister Dr. Hashan Mahmud said, Australia will continue duty free, quota free facilities for Bangladeshi products even after transitioning from a less developed country to a middle income country.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who is visiting Bangladesh, held a meeting with the Foreign Minister at the State Guest House Padma on Tuesday evening. Hashan Mahmud informed the journalists at the joint press briefing after the meeting.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to Australia M Allama Siddiqui and Australia's Acting High Commissioner to Dhaka Nadia Simpson were present at the meeting.

Referring to the visit of an Australian foreign minister for the first time in the last 26 years, the foreign minister respectfully remembered Go Whitlam, the former prime minister of Australia who visited Bangladesh in 1975 to meet Bangabandhu and gave support to the liberation war. The minister thanked Penny Wong for Australia's maximum support for the Rohingyas.

Hashan Mahmud also said that in the sincere meeting, the export of skilled manpower from Bangladesh, Australian investment in 100 special economic zones and 40 IT villages of Bangladesh, seasonal employment of Bangladeshis, welfare of expatriates there, prevention of illegal immigration, cooperation in energy and environment conservation were discussed.

Under the Technical and Further Education support of Australia, I have requested better training support in the technical training centers of Bangladesh, said Minister Hasan.

At the same time Dr. Hasan said, with the University of Australia UTC, we have credit transfer facility of Premier University of Chittagong as it has been discussed for other universities as well.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Ong said that Australia wants to stand by Bangladesh to further the great progress Bangladesh has made in various fields including social, economic and environmental protection.

He said that his country's coast guard chief will visit Bangladesh to increase maritime cooperation. He mentioned that Australia is ready to work together with Bangladesh to protect the common interests of the two countries in the Indian Ocean, deal with climate change, and develop human rights in various fields.

Bangladesh /MP