Australian parliamentary team meets PM, eyes stronger ties

A delegation from the Parliament of Australia held a courtesy meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday, discussing ways to deepen bilateral engagement and expand cooperation across key sectors.

The meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s Office at the Jatiya Sangsad at around 3:00pm.

Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives Milton Dick led the visiting delegation. Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary-1 Zahidul Islam Rony confirmed the development.

Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal, Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam were present at the meeting.

Officials said the discussions centred on strengthening Bangladesh-Australia relations, with particular emphasis on enhancing cooperation in trade, education, climate resilience and people-to-people connectivity.

Both sides also exchanged views on regional and global issues of shared interest, reflecting a growing alignment on economic and strategic priorities.

Relations between Dhaka and Canberra have steadily expanded in recent years, marked by increased engagement in development cooperation, education exchanges and labour mobility. Australia remains a popular destination for Bangladeshi students, while development partnerships have focused on governance, human development and climate adaptation.

The meeting also touched on strengthening parliamentary cooperation, with both sides recognising the role of legislative bodies in fostering democratic practices and institutional collaboration.