Australia ready to help increase Bangladesh police’s capacity: envoy

Acting High Commissioner to the Australian Embassy Nardia Simpson today said they are ready to provide necessary training and support to increase the capacity of Bangladesh police as a part of its reform.
Moreover, Australia is willing to provide skill development and other support through training in the cyber security, and immigration sector, Nardia said during a meeting with Home Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury at the secretariat today.
During the meeting, various issues including counterterrorism, prevention of human trafficking, police reform, and post-flood agricultural rehabilitation were discussed, according to a home ministry press release.
At the meeting, Jahangir, also the adviser to the agriculture ministry, said that the agriculture sector had been affected in 22 districts of Bangladesh due to the ongoing floods.
He then sought Australia’s cooperation in agricultural rehabilitation.
The acting high commissioner said BRAC, a non-governmental development organisation in Bangladesh, is a long-standing partner of Australia.
“We have provided necessary funds to BRAC for flood rehabilitation, she said, adding hopefully, they [BRAC] will start working soon.
“We believe in human rights and democratic values. Australia is keen to work more closely with Bangladesh on counterterrorism, transnational crime, and combating human trafficking in the future,” said Nardia.
She said Australia hopes that the current government’s efforts to protect human rights will continue.
The home adviser assured the acting high commissioner of the necessary cooperation.
The First Secretary (Political) of the Australian Embassy in Dhaka Anna Peterson and senior officials of the Home Ministry were present at the meeting.