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Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has sought Australia’s cooperation in ensuring the safe repatriation of Rohingya refugees sheltered in Bangladesh to their homeland in Myanmar.
He made the request during a bilateral meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday morning on the sidelines of the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye.
The meeting, held at around 10:30am local time, focused on a range of issues of mutual interest, including climate change, Australian investment in Bangladesh, agricultural development and resolving the protracted Rohingya crisis, according to the Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.
During the talks, Tarique Rahman urged Australia to strengthen its diplomatic efforts to facilitate the safe return of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar.
He said the Rohingya crisis originated in Myanmar and that its lasting solution also lay there. He stressed that ensuring their safe repatriation was essential to resolving the crisis.
The Prime Minister also highlighted Bangladesh’s investment opportunities, saying the country offered considerable scope for foreign investors. Both leaders discussed expanding Australian investment and cooperation in the agricultural sector.
On climate change, Tarique Rahman stressed the need to prioritise developing countries, particularly those most vulnerable to its impacts. He also praised Australia’s leadership in the ongoing COP31 negotiations.
He outlined Bangladesh’s renewable energy plans, saying the government aimed to meet 20 per cent of the country’s total electricity demand from renewable sources by 2030.
He also briefed Albanese on government initiatives to protect the environment and address climate change, including plans to plant 250 million trees nationwide and excavate and re-excavate canals.
During the meeting, the two leaders invited each other to visit their respective countries. Albanese expressed hope of visiting Bangladesh next year at a convenient time, while Tarique Rahman also expressed interest in visiting Australia.
The meeting was held as part of the Prime Minister’s three-day official visit to Türkiye to attend COP31.
