Several members of Australia's Rohingya community have filed complaints with police after obtaining tourist visas which Bangladesh authorities suspect to be fake.
It is alleged that an employee at the Bangladesh High Commission in Canberra is linked to the issuing of the visas, .
At least 20 refugees were detained at Dhaka airport in Bangladesh last month after travelling from Australia to visit their families - some of whom are living in the Cox’s Bazar refugee camps. They were told their documents were invalid and sent back to Australia.
Several of the group said they received their visas after being told by other members of the community that an employee at the Bangladesh High Commission could assist with the issuing of the visas. They were told to send their travel documents and payment of up to $350 to the employee’s home address.
Bangladesh High Commissioner Sufiur Rahman said they were waiting on a report from Bangladesh authorities and “cannot conclusively establish involvement of any of our staff”
The Australian Federal Police is investigating.
