|| MM Rahmatullah: Bangladesh and Canada have discussed expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, climate action, agriculture and energy, while stressing the importance of multilateralism and continued international efforts for the safe and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar.The issues came up when Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Ajit Singh paid his maiden call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiyun Kobir at the latter’s office in Dhaka on Sunday afternoon.Welcoming the Canadian envoy, the State Minister discussed with him ways to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries, particularly in multilateral forums.The two sides expressed hope for high-level engagements on the sidelines of the upcoming 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.During the meeting, they also discussed ways to boost bilateral trade and diversify Bangladesh’s exports to Canada beyond the ready-made garment sector.Light engineering and machinery were identified as potential areas for greater trade and investment cooperation. The two sides also discussed the possibility of exchanging business delegations to promote stronger commercial ties.The State Minister highlighted the important contribution of the more than 100,000-strong Bangladeshi diaspora in Canada, describing the community as an important bridge between the two countries.He also expressed appreciation for Canada’s continued support for the humanitarian response to the Rohingya crisis.In response, High Commissioner Ajit Singh reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to the safe, dignified and voluntary return of Rohingyas to Myanmar.The Rohingya issue remains a major concern for Bangladesh, which has been hosting more than a million forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals and has repeatedly called for their sustainable repatriation with safety, dignity and rights guaranteed.The discussion also assumed significance in the context of Bangladesh’s chairmanship of the 81st UN General Assembly session. The State Minister sought Canada’s support for Bangladesh’s priorities on climate leadership and climate financing.Climate change and access to adequate financing are key concerns for Bangladesh, one of the countries highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change despite having a relatively small share in global emissions.The Canadian High Commissioner, meanwhile, raised the possibility of establishing a framework for cooperation in agriculture between Bangladesh and Canada.The two sides also exchanged views on energy cooperation, indicating scope for expanding bilateral engagement into new areas beyond traditional trade and development assistance.At the meeting, both sides reaffirmed that Bangladesh-Canada relations remain rooted in friendship and mutual trust, and expressed interest in further strengthening the longstanding bilateral partnership.The discussions reflected a shared interest in broadening Bangladesh-Canada ties through greater economic engagement, people-to-people links and cooperation on global challenges such as climate change and the Rohingya crisis.