Honorable Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs, Dipen Dewan, MP, stated that there is significant potential for Bangladesh and Canada to collaborate on sustainable development, climate change resilience, and the promotion of eco-tourism in the CHT region.
The Minister made these remarks today, Tuesday (April 21), during a courtesy call from a four-member delegation led by the Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, His Excellency Mr. Ajit Singh, at the Minister’s office in the Bangladesh Secretariat.
During the meeting, Minister Dipen Dewan MP highlighted the communal harmony in the region, saying, In the Chittagong Hill Tracts, people of all ethnicities coexist on the foundation of mutual harmony and equality. The current government is working relentlessly to extend all types of civic services to the most remote areas of this region. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, we are committed to strengthening the wheels of Bangladesh’s economy.
Expressing appreciation for the Canadian government’s long-standing support for the development of the Hill Tracts, the Minister added, Canada has always been a true friend to Bangladesh. We hope that Canada will further extend its cooperation in areas such as environmental protection, afforestation, quality education, healthcare, sanitation, and job creation in the CHT region.
Minister Dipen Dewan, MP also emphasized the importance of bilateral partnerships in establishing good governance, modernizing the tourism industry, addressing climate change challenges, and promoting women’s empowerment. He expressed optimism that the friendly relations between Bangladesh and Canada would continue to strengthen in the future.
Canadian High Commissioner Mr. Ajit Singh highly praised Bangladesh’s socio-economic progress and assured continued support for the development of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
The Canadian delegation included Political Counsellor Mr. Marcus Davis, First Secretary (Development) Mr. Joseph McIntosh, and Development Advisor Ms. Farzana Sultana.
The meeting was also attended by senior officials of the Ministry of CHT Affairs, including Additional Secretary Md. Monirul Islam, Joint Secretary Mohammad Mominur Rahman, Joint Secretary Kazi Tofael Hossain, and the Private Secretary to the Minister (Deputy Secretary) Rabindra Chakma.