Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Monday hailed the signing of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) between Bangladesh and Australia as a major milestone in preventing unlawful migration and human trafficking.

He emphasized that this agreement would also strengthen bilateral relations and partnerships between the two nations.

"This agreement marks a significant step in our ongoing efforts to combat unlawful migration and human trafficking while reinforcing the strong and enduring partnership between our countries," he said during the SOP signing ceremony at the Home Ministry.

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

The adviser acknowledged that unlawful migration and human trafficking pose serious global challenges, threatening the principles of safe, orderly, and legal migration.

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

He reaffirmed the Bangladesh government's commitment to tackling these concerns, saying: "We are implementing strict measures to prevent dangerous and life-threatening journeys, ensuring that every Bangladeshi citizen has access to a secure and dignified migration pathway."

This initiative, he added, represents a significant step forward in strengthening bilateral ties and addressing migration challenges with a shared vision of security, prosperity, and human dignity.

Expressing gratitude to the Australian government for deciding to process visa applications in Dhaka, he said this move will help Bangladeshi citizens obtain Australian visas more quickly.

"I hope this strong bilateral cooperation continues in the future. Let us work together to eradicate unlawful migration and human trafficking, ensuring that migration remains safe, legal, and beneficial for all," he concluded.