Canada urged to jack up B’desh imports

Foreign Secretary Md. Shahidul Haque has called upon the Canadian government to increase imports of Bangladeshi ships,

ceramics, pharmaceuticals, electronics and IT products.

He highlighted the congenial investment atmosphere prevailing in Bangladesh and laid the importance on having a Foreign

Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) with Canada, according to a statement.

The Foreign Secretary made the call during a series of meetings at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and

Development of Canada in Ottawa on Monday.

The secretary is leading a Bangladesh delegation to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries. Kamrul Ahsan,

High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Canada and Mahfuzur Rahman, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

were present during the meetings

Foreign Secretary discussed issues of bilateral relations, including the transformation in the RMG sector, post 2015

Development Agenda, rise of extremism, counter-terrorism efforts and the people to people contacts.

He also requested the Canadian government to re-open the visa facilities for Bangladesh citizens in Dhaka.

During meetings, Canada sought Bangladesh’s collaboration in the areas of empowerment of women and gender equity as

well as post-2015 development agenda in the context of Commonwealth and the United Nations respectively, said the

Foreign Office.

During the meeting with the Canadian Deputy Minister for Trade Christian Hogan, Mr Haque discussed the current status

of bilateral trade and investment as well as its future expansion.

The Foreign Secretary exchanged views with Assistant Deputy Minister. Susan Gregson on Bangladesh’s development

partnership with Canada.

The Foreign Secretary held official talks with Canada’s Senior Associate Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Peter Boehm.

During this meeting, the Foreign Secretary raised the issue of repatriation of Noor Chowdhury, the convicted killer of the

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and requested the Canadian Government to extradite him to

Bangladesh. Senior Associate Deputy Minister replied that the Canadian Government will look into this with due

seriousness.