DHAKA: Visiting Bangladesh foreign secretary Mohammad Shahidul Haque met Canadian Deputy Minister for Trade Christian Hogan.

The secretary, who is leading a delegation, discussed the current status of bilateral trade and investment as well as its future expansion between the two friendly countries.

Reports say, currently, the both-way trade stands at US$1.9 billion where Bangladesh exports to Canada constitute more than one billion dollars.

Shahidul Haque called upon the Canadian government to increase imports from Bangladesh from various sectors including shipbuilding, light engineering, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, electronics and IT.

External Publicity Wing of foreign ministry issued a press note on Tuesday regarding the meeting.

It said, “The Foreign Secretary also highlighted the congenial atmosphere of investment that is prevailing in Bangladesh, and stressed the importance of having a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) with Canada.”

He also held official talks with Canada’s Senior Associate Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Peter Boehm and requested the Canadian government to extradite Noor Chowdhury, the convicted killer of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, to Bangladesh.

Peter Boehm replied that the Canadian government will look into this with due seriousness.

Shahidul Haque also discussed the whole gamut of the existing bilateral relations, including the transformation in the RMG sector, post 2015 Development Agenda, rise of extremists, counter-radicalization efforts and stressed on people to people contacts.

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

Later, he exchanged views with Assistant Deputy Minister Susan Gregson on Bangladesh’s development partnership with Canada.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to Canada Kamrul Ahsan and foreign ministry Director General Mahfuzur Rahman were present during the meetings.

BDST: 1435 HRS, FEB 17, 2015