ANTALYA, TURKEY — Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held a bilateral meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-31) in Antalya, Turkey.
Held on Thursday (12 November 2026) at 10:30 AM local time, the discussions focused on key issues of mutual interest, including expanding Australian investment in Bangladesh, tackling climate change, and ensuring the safe repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar.
Diplomatic Push for Rohingya Repatriation
During the meeting, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman sought strong diplomatic cooperation from Australia for the swift and safe repatriation of the approximately 1.3 million Rohingya who have been sheltered in Bangladesh for a prolonged period.
Pointing to the path toward resolving the crisis, he stated clearly that the crisis originated in Myanmar and its permanent solution lies there as well.
Investment and Environmental Targets
Alongside the Rohingya issue, the Prime Minister highlighted Bangladesh’s economic potential and the government’s initiatives to combat climate change. Key highlights included:
- Foreign Investment and Agriculture: Calling for the expansion of Australian investment in Bangladesh’s agriculture sector by highlighting the country’s favorable environment for foreign investors.
- Renewable Energy: The target of achieving 20 percent renewable energy nationwide by 2030.
- Afforestation Program: A nationwide plan to plant 250 million trees to combat climate change.
