As part of Australia's growing bilateral relationship with Bangladesh, the Australian government has announced the establishment of a new Home Affairs Office in Dhaka, said Australian Home Minister Tony Burke in a statement yesterday.

"The office will support prospective Bangladeshi migrants, as well as a central point of contact for the Bangladesh government to facilitate increased engagement and cooperation on immigration and border related matters," said a press statement of the Australian High Commission in Dhaka.

Last week, Bangladesh and Australia signed a Standard Operating Procedure for the safe and quick repatriation of Bangladeshis attempting to reach Australia illegally by sea after a meeting between Australian Home Minister Tony Burke and Bangladesh Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Chowdhury.

"This reflects our shared commitment to promoting safe and regular migration opportunities and combatting irregular migration and people smuggling," Tony Burke said.

The office will support prospective Bangladesh migrants by increasing access to comprehensive visa information services for people who are considering lawful and regular migration to Australia.
According to the Australian home ministry, there are more than 65,000 Bangladesh nationals who are living and working in Australia, making valuable contributions to Australian society.
They also contribute to Bangladesh's economy through regular remittances. It is a relationship of mutual benefit.

However, it said, people smuggling is a particularly sinister form of transnational crime where criminal people smugglers and unscrupulous agents exploit vulnerable people to make money.
They use lies to encourage people to hand over their money, promising a better life but delivering only dangerous and illegal journeys by sea, causing many of their victims to lose their livelihoods through crippling debt, the ministry said.
"Tragically, we have also seen people lose their lives at sea."
Tony Burke said Australia is committed to working closely with Bangladesh as an important partner in the Indian Ocean region, where the two countries share an interest in a peaceful, stable and prosperous region.
The Australian government thanked Bangladesh's interim government for its cooperation in countering people smuggling and promoting safe and regular migration pathways.