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Canada – Bangladesh Relations

Diplomatic Relations and Official Representation

Canada established diplomatic relations with Bangladesh in 1972.

In Bangladesh, Canada is represented by the High Commission of Canada to Bangladesh in Dhaka.

In Canada, Bangladesh is represented by the High Commission for Bangladesh in Ottawa.

Bilateral Relations

Built upon shared values of democracy and pluralism, Canada’s relations with Bangladesh are focused on development cooperation, trade and investment, regional security and people-to-people links.

Parliamentary Secretary Deepak Obhrai visited Bangladesh in July 2009, while the then-Minister of International Cooperation Bev Oda visited the country in January 2011. Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dipu Moni visited Ottawa in February 2011.

Bilateral and Multilateral Cooperation

People-to-people links between Canada and Bangladesh are expanding. The Bangladeshi-Canadian community is estimated at over 100,000 and continues to make significant contributions to Canadian prosperity and to the multi-cultural fabric of Canada.

Canada and Bangladesh share a number of multilateral interests including trade liberalization through the WTO and support for international peacekeeping. Canada and Bangladesh also enjoy close ties as members of the UN and the Commonwealth.

Development Assistance                           

Bilateral development assistance is central to Canada's relationship with Bangladesh, as Bangladesh is one of Canada’s largest aid recipients. In 2009, as part of Canada's new aid effectiveness agenda, Bangladesh was selected as a country of focus based on its level of need, on its ability to use aid dollars judiciously and on Canada's capacity to make a difference. The objectives of the Canadian International Development Agency's (CIDA) program in Bangladesh are to create opportunities for children and youth, and to stimulate sustainable economic growth.

CIDA's program in Bangladesh is directly aligned with the Government of Bangladesh's “Sixth Five Year Plan for Accelerating Growth and Reducing Poverty for 2011-2015” and will strengthen the capacity of both local and national governments to plan, manage, and monitor health and education delivery systems, and to promote sustainable economic growth. CIDA contributes to a wide range of projects in Bangladesh, which totalled $81.94 million in 2010-2011. For further information on Canadian development assistance to Bangladesh, please visit CIDA's website.

Trade and Investment

Canada’s commercial relationship with Bangladesh has grown dramatically in the last decade. The value of bilateral merchandise trade has more than doubled from $593.0 million in 2005 to $1.6 billion in 2012. During this period, Canadian merchandise exports to Bangladesh increased more than five-fold. Bangladesh thus became the second largest source of Canadian merchandise imports from South Asia, after India. In 2011, Canadian exports to Bangladesh reached $551 million, while merchandise imports totalled $1.1 billion. Canada’s main exports to Bangladesh include cereals, vegetables, miscellaneous grain and seed, iron and steel, wood pulp and machinery. Canada’s main merchandise imports from Bangladesh include knit apparel, woven apparel, miscellaneous textile articles, headgear, fish and seafood, plastics and footwear.

 

February 2013

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Date Modified:
2013-03-27