DHAKA: Australian government has sent five Bangladeshis asylum seekers along with other 35 nationals to refugee camp in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

A SMS of Shameem Ahsan, Director-General, External Publicity Wing of Foreign Ministry, made the disclosure Wednesday.

The SMS reads that they were sent to PNG as per new immigration law of the country.

The new immigration law of Australia reads as follow—

“Australia`s migration policy has changed. From 19 July 2013 if you travel to Australia by boat with no visa, you will not be settled here. You will be sent to Papua New Guinea for processing. If found to be a refugee, you`ll be settled in Papua New Guinea, or another participating regional state, not Australia. This includes women and children. These changes have been introduced to stop people smugglers and stop further loss of life at sea.

If you are not found to be in need of protection, you will stay in Papua New Guinea until you can be sent to your home country.

There will be no cap on the number of people who can be transferred or resettled in Papua New Guinea.

Don`t risk your family`s safety.

Don`t waste your money.

Don`t risk your life or waste your time or money by paying people smugglers. If you pay a people smuggler you are buying a ticket to another country.

Arriving in Australia by boat means:
• being sent straight to Papua New Guinea for processing
• being settled in Papua New Guinea, not Australia, even if you are found to be a refugee
• not being reunited with family and friends in Australia.”

BDST: 1835 HRS, AUG 28, 2013
AKA/GCP