Diplomatic Correspondent: The Chair of the Human Rights Committee in Canada’s Senate, Salma Ataullahjan, has praised the remarkable progress achieved by Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
During her visit to Toronto, Canada, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting of Bangladesh, Dr. Hasan Mahmud, met with Senator Ataullahjan at the Holiday Inn on Friday.
Senator Ataullahjan acknowledged Bangladesh’s achievements in economic and social development, particularly in women’s empowerment, population control, counterterrorism efforts, and fostering interfaith harmony.
She also commended Bangladesh for providing shelter to nearly 1.3 million Rohingya refugees and actively working towards a sustainable solution within Myanmar.
Minister Hasan Mahmud highlighted the importance of maintaining political stability to sustain the country’s development momentum during his discussions with the Canadian Senator. Senator Ataullahjan expressed her intention to visit Bangladesh in the first part of the coming year to further strengthen bilateral relations.
In a separate meeting, Minister Hasan Mahmud discussed immigration and student visas with Salma Zahid, Chair of Canada’s Parliamentary Immigration and Citizenship Committee.
They explored opportunities for Bangladeshi students under Canada’s Student Direct Stream (SDS) program and discussed streamlining the visa application process in Dhaka.
Salma Zahid mentioned her ongoing efforts in collaboration with Canada’s Immigration Minister and the Bangladesh High Commission to facilitate increased Canadian investments in Bangladesh. Both leaders emphasized the importance of the Foreign Investment Protection Agreement (FIPA) for fostering economic cooperation.
During their meeting, Salma Zahid praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s commitment to economic and social development in Bangladesh and expressed confidence in the country’s continued progress under her leadership.
The discussions also highlighted the role of political stability in sustaining Bangladesh’s trajectory of development.
Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Canada, Khalilur Rahman, was present during both meetings, reaffirming the strong ties between the two nations.
This visit further solidifies the relationship between Canada and Bangladesh, with an emphasis on economic cooperation and strengthening people-to-people connections.