Chattogram Bureau :
Mayor of Chattogram City Corporation Dr. Shahadat Hossain held a joint meeting with Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and Ontario Provincial Parliament Member (MPP) Dolly Begum. The meeting discussed strategic cooperation between the two cities, addres the impacts of climate change and the possibility of including Bangladeshi workers in healthcare.
In the meeting held on Friday (July 18), the Chattogram Mayor expressed interest in learning about Toronto’s advanced waste management and recycling processes.
Mayor Olivia Chow and her Chief of Staff pledged to exchange technology in this area and took the initiative to visit a Toronto waste management plant for Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) officials.
The meeting expressed interest in developing ‘sister city’ relations. Under this, several strategic projects including startup exchange program, municipal innovation pilot and cultural cooperation were discussed.
The discussion revealed that both Chattogram and Toronto are struggling to cope with waterlogging and the effects of climate change.
The meeting agreed to exchange experiences on river and canal revitalization, water-loving city concept, and methods of building climate resilience through natural means.
Bangladeshi-origin MPP Dolly Begum discussed the possibility of recruiting Bangladeshi nurses as Personal Support Workers (PSWs) in Canada.
She said that the skills and experience of Bangladeshi nurses are world-class, only the language barrier-especially passing the IELTS exam-can create opportunities for them.
She promised policy support and cooperation in program development in this regard. Mayor Dr. Shahadat termed the meeting as ‘constructive and pragmatic’.
She said, my visit to Canada is not just a formality, but my visit is aimed at achieving tangible results.
I am very happy with the sincerity and cooperative spirit of the leadership of Toronto. Hopefully, it will open a new chapter in the exchange of knowledge, technology, and investment between cities in Bangladesh and Canada, she said.
