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Monday | September 21, 2026 | Dhaka

Dhaka, Ottawa step up trade ties

 Staff Reporter
 Published: 12:56 AM, 21 September 2026

Bangladesh and Canada have discussed expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, agriculture, energy and climate action, alongside greater coordination to uphold multilateralism.

The issues came up when Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Ajit Singh paid his maiden call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir at the latter’s office in Dhaka on Sunday.

The State Minister warmly welcomed the Canadian envoy and held discussions on ways to further strengthen relations between the two countries.

The two sides discussed the importance of working together to uphold multilateralism and expressed hope for high-level engagements on the sidelines of the upcoming 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Trade diversification featured prominently in the discussions.

Bangladesh and Canada explored ways to expand bilateral trade beyond the readymade garment sector, with the State Minister highlighting potential cooperation in areas including light engineering and machinery.

They also discussed the possibility of exchanging business delegations to help identify new areas of commercial cooperation and create greater opportunities for businesses in both countries.

During the meeting, Kobir highlighted the contribution of the more than 100,000-strong Bangladeshi diaspora in Canada, describing the community as an important bridge between the two countries.

The Rohingya crisis was also discussed. The State Minister thanked Canada for its continued support for the humanitarian response to the Rohingya refugee crisis.

The Canadian High Commissioner reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to the safe, dignified and voluntary return of the Rohingya to Myanmar, according to the discussions.

With Bangladesh chairing the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Kobir also sought Canada’s support for Bangladesh’s priorities on climate leadership and climate financing.

Climate change remains an important area of cooperation between Bangladesh and Canada, particularly as Dhaka continues to advocate greater international support for vulnerable developing countries.

The Canadian High Commissioner, meanwhile, raised the possibility of establishing a framework of cooperation in agriculture between the two countries.

The two sides also exchanged views on energy cooperation and explored potential avenues for further engagement in the sector.

The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming that Bangladesh-Canada relations remain rooted in friendship and mutual trust, while expressing interest in expanding cooperation across a wider range of areas.