DHAKA, Oct 6, 2024 (BSS) - Bangladesh and Australia today reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation on maritime security, underscoring the importance of promoting peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region.

This was observed at a meeting between acting Australian High Commissioner in Dhaka Nardia Simpson and Bangladesh Coast Guard Director General Rear Admiral Mir Ershad Ali. 

During the discussion, they focused on how joint maritime efforts could contribute to a "peaceful, stable, and prosperous" region, according to the Australian High Commission here. 

As Indian Ocean neighbors, Australia and Bangladesh have expressed their intention to deepen collaboration between their coastguards to tackle shared challenges such as piracy, illegal fishing, and maritime smuggling.

This follows earlier commitments made by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong during her visit to Dhaka in May last where she pledged to strengthen ties with Bangladesh across several key areas including the regional maritime security.
 
The growing partnership between Australia and Bangladesh aligns with broader regional efforts to ensure maritime security in the Indian Ocean, a critical region for global trade and economic stability.