Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd.) said on Monday (March 24) that the signing of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) between Bangladesh and Australia marked a milestone in preventing unlawful migration and human trafficking and strengthened bilateral relations and partnerships between the countries.

"This agreement marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to combat unlawful migration and human trafficking, reinforcing the strong and enduring partnership between our two nations," he said at the SOP signing ceremony at the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam and Commander of the Australian Border Force Mark Whitechurch signed the SOP on behalf of Bangladesh and Australia, respectively.

The Home Affairs Adviser said that unlawful migration and human trafficking pose serious global challenges, jeopardizing the principles of safe, orderly, and legal migration.

"These issues not only endanger countless lives but also threaten the integrity of skill-based and legal migration channels," he said.

The Government of Bangladesh remains steadfast in its commitment to eradicating these grave concerns, he added.

"We are actively implementing stringent measures to prevent dangerous and life-threatening journeys, ensuring that every Bangladeshi citizen has access to a secure and dignified migration pathway," he said.

He opined that this initiative represents a remarkable step forward in strengthening our bilateral relations and addressing migration challenges with a shared vision of security, prosperity, and human dignity.

He also expressed his sincere gratitude to the government of Australia for deciding to process visa applications in Dhaka.

It will help Bangladeshi citizens get Australian visas without further delay, he said.

"I hope that such strong bilateral cooperation will continue in the future. Let us continue our collective efforts to eradicate unlawful migration and human trafficking, ensuring a future where migration is safe, legal, and beneficial for all," he concluded.

Secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs Nasimul Ghani and Australian High Commissioner Susan Ryle were present, among others.