by Hafizur Rahman
Dhaka, November 14, 2025 —
A Canadian parliamentary delegation led by Senator Salma Ataullahjan and Members of Parliament Salma Zahid and Sameer Zuberi met Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on Wednesday to discuss trade cooperation and the Rohingya crisis.
The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral trade relations between Bangladesh and Canada and exploring ways to find durable solutions for the displaced Rohingya population.
Chief Adviser Yunus briefed the delegation on the government’s ongoing political and economic reforms and preparations for the upcoming February 2026 election.
“You’ve come at a time when Bangladesh is undergoing important changes led by young people. Now we are preparing for a historic election,” he said. He also thanked Canada for its continued support to the Rohingya community.
“Eight years have passed since the Rohingya arrived. Returning them to their homeland is the only real solution. About 1.2 million Rohingya are living here. Thousands of children are growing up without clarity about their citizenship or future, which makes the situation very serious,” Yunus added.
Senator Salma Ataullahjan said she would make a formal statement on the Rohingya issue and reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to supporting the displaced community.
MP Sameer Zuberi highlighted Canada’s growing interest in expanding trade with Bangladesh. “Bangladesh and Canada have strong people-to-people ties. Our Prime Minister recently visited Asia to expand trade partnerships,” he said.
The delegation also included Mahmuda Khan, CEO of Human Concern International (HCI); Masum Mahbub, CEO of Human Concern USA; Ahmad Attia, CEO of Gestalt Communications; and Usama Khan, CEO of Islamic Relief Canada.
Discussions also covered potential Canadian investment in Bangladesh’s garment, agriculture, and technology sectors. National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman and Senior Secretary on SDG Affairs Lamiya Morshed were also present at the meeting.
