1511735 (Refugee)

The applicant, a citizen of Bangladesh, sought review of a decision by the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs to refuse their application for a protection visa. The applicant claimed to be a victim of persecution due to their association with a family member who was a government officer, and alleged they had been assaulted and threatened by terrorists after passing information to their father. The applicant also referred to attending Chhatri Shibir lectures and stated their family was suspected of involvement in violence.

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal was required to determine whether the applicant had established that they would be a person to whom Australia would have protection obligations under the *Migration Act 1958* (Cth). This involved assessing whether the applicant's claims of persecution were credible and whether they belonged to a 'particular social group' as defined by international refugee law, specifically in relation to their family's alleged connection to violence and their own actions. The Tribunal also had to consider the applicant's explanation for any inconsistencies in their account and the delay in lodging their protection application.

The Tribunal found the applicant's claims to be lacking in credibility, noting inconsistencies in the information provided and the applicant's explanations for these, including alleged interpreter difficulties. The Tribunal concluded that the applicant had not demonstrated a well-founded fear of persecution or that they belonged to a particular social group that would engage Australia's protection obligations. Consequently, the Tribunal affirmed the delegate's decision to refuse the protection visa.