Canada's Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen has emphasized his country's ongoing support for Bangladesh's democratic reforms, human rights, and progress towards "free and fair elections" through an "inclusive" process.

February 14, 2025, will mark the 53rd anniversary of official diplomatic relations between the two countries. Canada was among the first to recognize Bangladesh's independence.

The Canadian minister concluded his two-day visit to Bangladesh on Tuesday after visiting the Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar.

He met Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Monday and discussed issues of mutual interest.

Minister Hussen visited a health center in a Rohingya refugee camp supported by Canada that is providing lifesaving care such as urgent treatment, safe childbirth, pharmacy services, and hygiene facilities.

On the ground in Cox's Bazar, he witnessed the powerful impact of Canada's humanitarian and development assistance.

From climate smart agriculture to education and refugee vocational training, Canadian efforts are making a real difference, said the Canadian High Commission in Dhaka.

Minister Hussen and the Chief Adviser reflected on the longstanding friendship between Canada and Bangladesh.

They also discussed Canada's evolving development program, opportunities to expand bilateral trade, anti-corruption, the Rohingya Crisis, and enhancing people-to-people ties.

Canada has provided more than $6.2 billion of official development assistance to Bangladesh since its independence in 1971.

This includes championing Bangladesh-based NGOs such as BRAC and icddr,b, which have since become respected global leaders.

Canada has also dedicated more than $600 million to respond to the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar and Bangladesh and remains actively engaged.

Canada's international assistance program in Bangladesh is focused on strengthening health and education systems, including sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR); building market-driven technical and vocational skills systems for women and youth; gender equality, including reducing child marriage; and climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Canada and Bangladesh also have a growing and dynamic commercial relationship.

Bilateral trade stood at approximately $3.5 billion in 2023, with significant scope for expansion in the coming years as both countries explore ways to diversify into new sectors, including clean technologies, technical vocational training, agricultural technologies and partnerships and aerospace equipment and services, said the High Commission.