Staff reporter :
Canada has reiterated its commitment to advocating for the repatriation of the Rohingya population to Myanmar through international forums, aiming to increase global pressure to resolve the crisis.
The country has also expressed its interest in fostering stronger bilateral relations with Bangladesh, focusing on enhanced cooperation in trade, investment, and other key areas.
This commitment was highlighted during a courtesy meeting between Canada’s Minister of International Development, Ahmed Hussen, and Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser, Md Touhid Hossain, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka on Monday.
The High Commissioner of Canada to Bangladesh, Ajit Singh, was also present, along with officials from both countries.
The discussions centred on strengthening the longstanding partnership between the two nations and exploring opportunities for collaboration in diverse fields, including trade, investment, capacity building, skill development, technical assistance, agriculture, and fostering people-to-people connections.
Minister Hussen praised Bangladesh’s reform initiatives and reaffirmed Canada’s steadfast support for the country under the leadership of Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus.
He also commended the contributions of the Bangladeshi diaspora in Canada and expressed a strong desire to deepen ties between the two countries.
The Foreign Adviser conveyed gratitude to the Government of Canada for its continued economic and developmental support.
Both parties engaged in comprehensive discussions on shared priorities, such as enhancing trade and investment opportunities, labour reforms, financial sector development, healthcare collaboration, and providing humanitarian support to the Rohingya population.
Highlighting the challenges faced by Bangladesh in hosting the Rohingya community, the Foreign Adviser underscored the urgency of facilitating their sustainable repatriation.
Minister Hussen commended Bangladesh’s significant humanitarian efforts and reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to advocating for the Rohingya cause in international forums.
The Foreign Adviser also requested Canada’s collaboration in the upcoming international conference on the Rohingya issue, scheduled for later this year.
Both sides agreed to expedite the finalisation of the Foreign Investment and Protection Act to create a favourable environment for Canadian investors to explore opportunities in Bangladesh.
The meeting concluded with a strong mutual commitment to enhancing bilateral relations and advancing shared priorities in the future.
