Australian HC meets Jamaat Ameer

Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Susan Ryle paid a courtesy call on Leader of the Opposition and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Md Shafiqur Rahman at his parliamentary office on Monday.

The two sides held the meeting at 11:30am in a cordial and constructive atmosphere. Harry Thomson and Anna Peterson, both First Secretaries (Political) of the Australian High Commission, accompanied the High Commissioner. Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Qasem Arman MP, Marzia Akter MP , Mardia Mumtaz MP, and foreign affairs advisory team member Ali Ahmad Mabrur joined the opposition leader at the meeting.

The two sides discussed Dr. Shafiqur Rahman’s upcoming visit to Australia, the role of government and opposition in strengthening parliamentary democracy, and ways to make democracy more meaningful after national elections. Both sides agreed that democracy cannot function effectively without the active participation of the opposition.

Both parties also exchanged views on the recently announced national budget and the opposition’s proposed shadow budget. The two sides engaged in substantive discussions on achieving a durable solution to the Rohingya crisis, Bangladesh’s economic potential, and energy sector development, which drew particular attention during the session.

The High Commissioner praised Jamaat-e-Islami’s constructive role in parliament. Both sides further explored possible Australian government cooperation in implementing Bangladesh’s skills development programmes and identified avenues for advancing shared bilateral interests in the future.