Australia ready to work with Bangladesh: Australian defense minister

The Australian Assistant Minister for Defense Matt Thistlethwaite has said Australia is ready to work with Bangladesh.

"Australia is ready to work with the present government of Bangladesh as the country has formed a new government after holding credible national elections on January 7, this year," he said.

The assistant defense minister said this while addressing a function at a hotel in Australian capital Canberra on Tuesday marking the Independence and National Day of Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh High Commission in Australia organised the function.

Matt Thistlethwaite echoed that Australia and Bangladesh are maintaining very close relationships with each other. "The relations of both the countries have been strengthened following a visit of the then Australian Prime Minister Edward Gough Whitlam, who served from 1972 to 1975, in January, 1975.

He said Australia had recognized Bangladesh on January 31, 1972, after its independence.

"The bilateral participation of Bangladesh and Australia also will advance exhaustively during this time," Bangladeshi envoy in Australia M Allama Siddiqui said while taking part in the discussion.

He expressed gratitude to the Australian government and the people as well for playing a role in the Liberation War of Bangladesh.

The reception programme was also attended by Australian Federal Member of Parliament Andrew Charlton, Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs Peter John Cain, diplomats from different countries in the world, and other Australian government high officials including the Chief of Protocol and expatriate Bangladeshis in Australia.