Australia seeks BD steps to prevent illegal entry

Australia has sought Bangladesh government's steps to prevent the illegal entry of its citizens to that country.

Special envoy of Australian Prime Minister Jim Mola sought cooperation to check illegal migration at a meeting Monday with Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain.

After the meeting the Australian envoy told the journalists his country has taken tough stance over illegal entry of Bangladeshis to his country.

But the envoy said the number of Bangladeshis entering Australia illegally is not notable still now.

He cautioned the Bangladesh government that if Bangladeshis try to enter Australia through illegal channels, they would be punished.

The illegal migrants will be locked up at offshore centres in Niro and Papua New Guinea and after that they will be sent back home.

The minister informed the Australian special envoy at the meeting that Bangladesh has launched a battle against illegal migration.

Bangladesh has taken different initiatives to reduce illegal labour migration. It has enacted a new law keeping maximum 10 years' imprisonment to the guilty.

Australian Deputy High Commissioner Lusada Bell, Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) Director General Begum Shamsun Nahar, among others, were present at the meeting.