Bangladesh, Australia sign MoU in education

Dhaka, Mar 8 (UNI) Bangladesh and Australia today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under which 100 university students from the Asian country can visit the continental country to study and work for one year.

A MoU to this effect was signed here by visiting Australian Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Amanda Vanstone and Bangladesh State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar.

Bangladesh is the first country in South Asia and fourth in the world after Chile, Iran and Thailand to enter into such a protocol with Australia named ''Work and Holiday''.

Under the arrangement, Australian University students will also enjoy similar facilities of working holiday on reciprocal basis.

According to a provision, a student will not be able to work for more than three months under one employer.

''If it works well, the programme might be extended,'' an official said adding guidelines will be formulated for recruiting the eligible students.

Presently, some 7,000 Bangladeshi students are studying in Australia. Besides, 25,000 Bangladeshi-origin immigrants live in the continental country.

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