e-News® | The NEWS Company…DHAKA, Jan 17, 2016 : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today put emphasis on introduction of direct air link between Bangladesh and Canada for mutual benefits of the two countries. The Prime Minister expressed this view when newly appointed Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Benoit-Pierre Laramee, paid a courtesy call on her at her office here this morning.

After the meeting, PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters. Sheikh Hasina congratulated the newly elected government of Canada and hoped the relations between Dhaka and Ottawa would reach a new height under the leadership of new Prime Minister Justin Pierre James Trudeau. She said a huge number of expatriate Bangladeshis are living in Canada and they are contributing a lot to the economy of both the countries. The Prime Minister appreciated the contribution of the Canadian government to Bangladesh’s development efforts and said her government has given top priority to education to achieve desired development.

In this connection, she mentioned that her government has also taken steps to strengthen private sector and local governments to this end. Mentioning readymade garments as the main export product, the Premier said Bangladesh is exploring new areas like IT and software for diversifying its exports. Spelling out her government’s measures for development of the garment sector, she mentioned that the government appointed inspectors to look into the security issue in the garment industries.

Sheikh Hasina said the gap between the rural and urban people is narrowing down while migration to urban areas is declining due to creation of employment at villages. Appreciating Canada’s cooperative system, the Prime Minister noted that Bangabandhu had introduced such a system in Bangladesh. She said her government is trying to encourage setting up small- and medium-scale argo-based industries in the country. When the Canadian envoy raised the issue of airport security, the Prime Minister assured him that her government had already taken necessary measures in this regard.

The Premier also recalled the invaluable support of the Canadian government during the Great War of Liberation in 1971. At the meeting, Laramee said Ottawa values partnership with Dhaka to ensure regional security. “We want to work with Bangladesh in a number of sectors like gender equality and health,” the envoy said.

He also mentioned that the newly elected Canadian Prime Minister explicitly wants to work with Bangladesh on clean environment and climate change issue. In this regard, the envoy said the Canadian Prime Minister is keen to work with the Bangladesh Premier to combat adverse impact of climate change. Highly appreciating Bangladesh’s contribution to UN peacekeeping missions, the Canadian high commissioner said Bangladesh is the leader of UN Peacekeeping.

Laramee highly appreciated the significant measures undertaken by the Bangladesh government for ensuring security in diplomatic zone. He also lauded Bangladesh’s stunning successes in various sectors, saying the country is marching forward towards economic development and prosperity under the charismatic leadership of the Prime Minister. The Canadian envoy stressed the need for holding of high-level policy dialogue between the two countries.