DHAKA: Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali received Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Benoit-Pierre Laramee at his office in city on Tuesday.

Moreover, the Canadian envoy handed over a letter from Canadian foreign minister Rob Nicholson.

The letter said that Canada and Bangladesh have enjoyed warm diplomatic relations and looked forward to building on these ties through continued development cooperation, increased trade and investment, and strengthened people to people links.

He recalled that Canada was one of the first countries to recognize Bangladesh and has been maintaining a strong interest in Bangladesh’s continued democratic, economic and social development.

The Canadian minister also thanked Mahmood Ali for inviting him to visit Bangladesh.

During the discussion, the High Commissioner commended the government for holding the recent city corporation elections in Dhaka and Chittagong because he felt that these elections brought back normalcy in public life which was jeopardized by the violence of BNP-Jamaat alliance.

However, Mahmood Ali stated that the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would continue its strides towards economic and social development for welfare of its people including women’s empowerment on its democratic path.

BDST: 2130 HRS, MAY 19, 2015
BD/RR