Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday sought Canada's support to recover money siphoned off from Bangladesh to the North American country, specifically invested in "Begum Para". "They stole money from our people and bought assets in Begum Para. We need your help to recover the assets. It is the money of our people," Dr Yunus told Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Ajit Singh during a meeting at the State Guest Jamuna. The Chief Adviser said hundreds of billions of dollars were stolen from Bangladesh by oligarchs, cronies and politicians connected with the Sheikh Hasina dictatorship, and part of it was laundered to Canada, including in buying assets in Toronto's infamous "Begum Para" neighbourhood. He sought help to identify, freeze and recover the assets during his meeting with the Canadian High Commissioner. The Canadian High Commissioner appreciated the efforts of the Prof Yunus-led interim government to bring the stolen money back. Govt seeks UK support to bring laundered money back He assured Canada's support in response to the Chief Adviser's asset recovery efforts, noting that Canada has a "mechanism" to freeze siphoned off money for recovery from persons identified by the interim government to the government of Canada. The Canadian High Commissioner also offered the country's support to the interim government's reform initiatives in its transition to democracy. "We support the great thing you are doing. We appreciate the progress that has been made. We are keen to know what we can do," Ajit Singh said. He said Canada was keen to expand trade with Bangladesh and invest more in the country. A Canadian minister would visit Bangladesh soon to discuss issues of mutual interest, he added. Prof Yunus recalled his meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the United Nations General Assembly in New York and said Dhaka needs more Canadian investment. "Bangladesh is ready for business. We want to expand trade with your country and we want Canadian companies to relocate their factories to Bangladesh," he said. BB Governor reveals laundered money figures, reaffirms efforts to recover  The Chief Adviser said many Bangladeshi people now live and study in Canada, and Ottawa should make a move to set up its visa office in Dhaka. Lamiya Morshed, senior secretary and the principal coordinator of SDGs affairs, also attended the meeting.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain on Monday urged Canadian authorities to expedite visa processing for Bangladeshi nationals, with a particular focus on student visas. The Foreign Adviser mentioned the daunting challenges faced by Bangladesh in hosting around 1.3 million Rohingyas in Bangladesh and sought international cooperation, including Canada’s strong support for their sustainable return to their homeland. No discussion regarding CA’s China visit, says Foreign Adviser after his bilateral tour The issues were discussed when newly-appointed High Commissioner of Canada to Bangladesh Ajit Singh paid a courtesy call on Hossain at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomats of the High Commission of Canada in Dhaka were also present at the meeting. The Foreign Adviser welcomed and congratulated Ajit Singh on his appointment as the High Commissioner of Canada to Bangladesh.   They had elaborate discussions on key issues, including agricultural cooperation, trade and investment, the financial sector and the Rohingya crisis. South Korea backs Bangladesh's interim govt, reforms The High Commissioner noted these concerns and assured maximum support in addressing those. The two dignitaries reaffirmed to further strengthen the existing excellent bilateral relationship between the two countries, especially in the fields of trade, investment, agriculture, capacity building, skill development, technical assistance and people-to-people contact. The Foreign Adviser assured the High Commissioner of full support from the government of Bangladesh during his tenure to strengthen the Bangladesh-Canada partnership.

Canada will limit the number of international students entering the country in 2025 for the second straight year, aiming to alleviate pressure on housing, healthcare, and other essential services. The immigration ministry announced on Friday that the country would issue 437,000 study permits in 2025—a 10% decrease from the previous year. This follows the introduction of a cap on international student permits in 2024, as rapid population growth was linked to worsening housing shortages. Trudeau to remain as Canadian PM till March 9 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who plans to step down in March, recently committed to lowering immigration levels amid declining public support for newcomers. In 2023, Canada issued over 650,000 study permits, pushing the number of international students in the country to a record high of over one million—three times the figure from a decade earlier. The surge in population, driven by immigration, has strained public services such as healthcare and education while contributing to rising housing costs. Canadian PM dismisses Trump's idea to merge Canada into U.S.   Source: Agencies

High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Canada Nahida Sobhan has underscored the vital role of young people in nation-building. During a panel discussion at the Youth Festival in Toronto, she commended the commitment and unity exhibited by Bangladeshi-origin youth in Canada during the 2024 movement. The envoy highlighted the critical role of young voices in driving sustainable nation-building efforts. “The High Commission remains fully committed to engaging with Bangladeshi-origin youth in Canada, empowering them to be catalysts for progress and representing Bangladesh’s dynamic potential,” said the high commissioner, according to a message here. The High Commission of Bangladesh in Ottawa, in collaboration with Progressive Action for Community Empowerment (PACE), hosted an event at the Albert Campbell Public Library in Toronto on January 18 as part of the ongoing Youth Festival 2025, an initiative by the government of Bangladesh. The event, themed “Let’s Change the Country, Let’s Change the World,” served as a platform for Bangladeshi-origin youth in Canada to explore their role in shaping a progressive and inclusive Bangladesh. A diverse group of students and young professionals who actively supported and organized protest events in Toronto during the historic July–August 2024 movement in Bangladesh attended the gathering. A Davos-style panel discussion was the key highlight of the event, where participants shared innovative ideas and solutions to address critical challenges facing Bangladesh’s future. Srijoni Rahman, one of the young panelists, emphasised the transformative potential of the Bangladeshi diaspora in driving positive change. While thanking the High Commission of Bangladesh in Canada, she said Bangladeshi foreign missions should encourage youth engagement and foster a positive mindset so that the youth of the Bangladeshi diaspora can meaningfully contribute to Bangladesh’s transformation. She also said Bangladesh has always been a model and an inspiration for youth-led movements, and youths have always been catalysts for bringing about change. Read: Environment Minister urges youths to adopt Sheikh Kamal's ideals for nation-building "We should draw lessons from our values – the values derived from our War of Independence in 1971 and the July-August movement – to ensure social justice and equity.” Another panelist Urbi Khan, a youth representative from the Bangladeshi community and a journalist at the Toronto Star, reminded the audience that the youth have always been the vanguard of change in Bangladesh’s storied history, including during the recent July-August movement. She maintained that Bangladesh itself is the cherished fruit of revolutionary struggles, nurtured by the sacrifices and indomitable spirit of its people.

Canada's energy minister came to Washington this week to warn U.S. lawmakers about President-elect Donald Trump's tariffs threat on Canada: They'd inflict economic pain on Americans, with higher prices and job losses. Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada's minister of energy and natural resources, said he feels obligated to sound the alarm about the inflationary risks being created by a president who was elected in large part on the promise of bringing down prices. "It will mean higher gas prices, it will mean higher food prices, it will mean higher natural gas prices for heating people's homes,” he told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “It will mean higher electricity prices. That's not something Donald Trump campaigned on. He campaigned on actually reducing the price of energy.” Trump has threatened to impose sweeping 25% tariffs on Canada as well as on Mexico. He's also threatened tariffs on China and Europe, creating a sense of uncertainty about whether this is simply a negotiating ploy or a massive restructuring of U.S. foreign relations. Trump and his team in recent days have doubled down on his promise to impose tariffs on other nations and downplayed the risk of higher inflation. “In his first term, President Trump instituted tariffs that created jobs, spurred investment, and resulted in no inflation," said Karoline Leavitt, a transition spokesperson who is also the incoming White House press secretary. "President Trump will work quickly to fix and restore an economy that puts American workers first by re-shoring American jobs, lowering inflation, raising real wages, lowering taxes, cutting regulations, and unshackling American energy.” Canada is looking at putting retaliatory tariffs on American orange juice, toilets and some steel products if Trump follows through with his threat. When Trump imposed higher tariffs during his first term in office, Canada announced billions of dollars in new duties in 2018 against the U.S. in a tit-for-tat response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum. The dispute never triggered broader inflation across the economy, even if it exacted higher costs for some. But by targeting America's second largest trading partner after Mexico, Trump risks upending the markets for autos, lumber and oil — all of which could carry over quickly to consumers. “I do think that people just need to understand that we're going down a path right now that will elevate the cost of living for people in the United States for no benefit," Wilkinson said. "Zero benefit.” Read: UK inflation unexpectedly eased in December Wilkinson is considering a run to lead the Liberal Party in Canada after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation this month. He expects to make a decision at the end of the week. While Trump has said he would announce tariffs immediately after taking the oath of office Monday, it's still not publicly clear what that would actually entail. It's possible he could simply announce intentions to put in tariffs, phase them in on a schedule or simply declare an economic emergency to justify higher taxes on imports. Trudeau said Wednesday that "nothing is off the table” when it comes to responding to proposed tariffs, but no single region of the country should bear the full brunt from that response. He held a five-hour meeting in Ottawa with the country’s premiers to discuss Trump’s threats. Even though Trump has signaled a willingness to act on his own, Democrats are looking to place legislative guardrails on his ambitions — a sign that they take the kinds of scenarios being outlined by Canada, Mexico and others seriously. Reps. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., and Don Beyer, D-Va., introduced legislation Wednesday that would roll back the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which gives the president authority to impose sanctions on hostile foreign nations that pose an emergency threat to the U.S. DelBene said on a call with reporters to preview the legislation that Trump's tariffs constitute a “nationwide sales tax on foreign goods that saddles families with higher prices." “This is the textbook definition of a trade war," she said. Despite Trump's claim that the U.S doesn't need Canada, a quarter of the oil America consumes per day is from there. Wilkinson said that, in addition to consumer prices increasing, the U.S. could face job cuts in areas that process Canadian energy products, including the Midwest and Gulf states. "If you don't have access to Canadian gas, you can't do that. The same is true with potash.” The threat from Canada comes as concerns over the impact of Trump’s tariff proposals on the U.S. economy and inflation mount in business boardrooms, on Wall Street trading floors and among Federal Reserve officials. The Fed has already indicated it is worried tariffs could slightly lift U.S. inflation. Read more: Germany's economy shrinks again Neel Kashkari, president of the Fed’s Minneapolis branch, said Wednesday that a one-time tariff imposed by the U.S. likely wouldn’t worsen inflation much in the long run. But once other countries retaliate, Kashkari said, the impact could worsen. “If there’s tit-for-tat, that becomes much more complicated to try to forecast, what is the imprint of that on actual inflation going forward,” he said. Wilkinson said, “My focus is actually to try and get us away from the conversation on tariffs, which I would say is lose-lose."

US President-elect Donald Trump has made expansionist comments about extending American influence into Canada, Greenland (a Danish territory), and even the Panama Canal. His statements about potentially redrawing international borders, possibly through force, have sparked alarm in Europe, especially as they contradict the position that European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are trying to convey to Russian President Vladimir Putin, reports AP. Panama Canal administrator pushes back against Trump's assertions of Chinese meddling Despite the controversial nature of Trump's words, many European leaders have responded cautiously, knowing that his actions don't always align with his rhetoric. Some have taken a more relaxed stance rather than offering a strong defence of Denmark, an EU member state. Analysts, however, suggest that even words alone can have a damaging effect on U.S.-European relations as Trump enters his second presidency. In Europe, where countries rely on U.S. cooperation for trade, energy, defence, and security, many officials have expressed confidence that Trump has no intention of using force to annex territories. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said that the U.S. would not attempt to annex territories in the near future, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that borders should not be altered by force, though he did not mention Trump directly. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, urging continued support from the incoming administration, emphasized the need for countries to feel secure in their sovereignty, particularly as Russia's invasion of Ukraine threatens this principle. European foreign ministers from Britain and France also dismissed the notion of a U.S. invasion of Greenland, but French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot noted that Trump's comments served as a warning about the potential return of a "law of the strongest." Judge sentences Trump in hush money case but declines to impose punishment Greenland's prime minister, Múte B. Egede, stated that the island's citizens do not want to be part of the U.S., though they are open to increased cooperation. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reiterated the strong alliance between Denmark and the U.S., emphasizing unity. Security experts, though confident that the U.S. would not attack Denmark, have voiced concerns about the long-term impact of Trump's rhetoric on trans-Atlantic relations, NATO, and international norms. Some analysts are particularly concerned about Trump's suggestion that Canada should join the U.S. as a state, which has caused friction between the two countries. Flemming Splidsboel Hansen, an expert on foreign policy and Russia, expressed worry about the weakening of NATO and the broader trans-Atlantic alliance, questioning what it might look like by the end of Trump's second term. Some diplomats and analysts suggest that Trump's focus on Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal is linked to securing valuable resources and waterways for the U.S., particularly in the face of competition with China, which dominates the global supply of rare earth minerals critical for technology. EU not to tolerate attacks within borders, France says amid Trump’s Greenland claim However, analysts caution that Trump's proposed methods are dangerous and could set a concerning precedent. Security expert Alexander Khara likened Trump's stance on Greenland to Putin's justification for Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, warning that the idea of flexible borders could lead to more conflict and instability in the future.

Canada's governing Liberal Party will announce the country's next prime minister on March 9 after a leadership vote that follows the resignation of Justin Trudeau this week, party leaders said late Thursday. Trudeau remains prime minister until a new leader is chosen. The frontrunners for the Liberal leadership are former central banker Mark Carney and ex-Finance Minster Chrystia Freeland, whose abrupt resignation last month forced Trudeau's exit. Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, meanwhile, has decided to not enter the race. Joly said that while she’s ready to become the first female leader of the Liberal party, she’s not willing to leave her cabinet posting at a “crucial time” for Canada-US relations. “The reality is, I can’t do both,” she told reporters on Parliament Hill on Friday. Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc dashed the hopes of many of his fellow lawmakers Wednesday by becoming the first Cabinet minister to rule out a leadership bid. Trudeau to remain as Canadian PM till March 9 The Liberal Party’s National Board of Directors announced the rules of the race late Thursday. “After a robust and secure nation-wide process, the Liberal Party of Canada will choose a new leader on March 9, and be ready to fight and win the 2025 election,” party president Sachit Mehra said in a statement. The political upheaval comes at a difficult moment for Canada. US President-elect Donald Trump keeps calling Canada the 51st state and has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods. The next Liberal leader could be the shortest-tenured prime minister in the country's history. All three opposition parties have vowed to bring down the Liberals' minority government in a no-confidence vote after parliament resumes on March 24. Recent polls suggest the Liberals’ chances of winning the next election look slim. In the latest poll by Nanos, the Liberals trail the opposition Conservatives 45% to 23%. Trudeau announced his resignation Monday after facing an increasing loss of support both within his party and in the country. The 53-year-old scion of Pierre Trudeau, one of Canada’s most famous prime ministers, became deeply unpopular with voters over a range of issues, including the soaring cost of food and housing as well as surging immigration. Trudeau told Freeland last month he no longer wanted her to serve as finance minister, but that she could remain deputy prime minister and the point person for US-Canada relations. Freeland resigned shortly after and released a scathing letter about the government that proved to be the last straw for the embattled leader. She has been talking to her colleagues this week to discuss next steps. After she resigned, Trump called Freeland “totally toxic” and “not at all conducive to making deals.” Freeland was Canada's point person when the US, Canada and Mexico redid its free trade deal during the first Trump administration. Freeland is a combination of many things that seem to irritate Trump: a liberal, a Canadian, and a former journalist. Freeland, who is of Ukrainian heritage, has also been a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russia Carney is a highly educated economist with Wall Street experience who is widely credited with helping Canada dodge the worst of the 2008 crisis and helping the UK manage Brexit. In 2012, he was named the first foreigner to serve as governor of the Bank of England since it was founded in 1694. His appointment won bipartisan praise in Britain after he served as the head of Canada's central bank and after Canada recovered faster than many other countries from the 2008 financial crisis. He has long been interested in entering politics and becoming prime minister but lacks political experience. He said this week in a statement that he is encouraged by the support he has had, and that he will consider his decision with family over the next few days. The Liberal party said the fee to join the leadership race will be $350,000 Canadian ($243,000) and candidates must declare by Jan. 23. The party said voters for the party leadership must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident.

Canada's governing Liberal Party will select the country's next prime minister on March 9 following a leadership vote triggered by Justin Trudeau's resignation earlier this week, party officials announced on Thursday, reports AP. Trudeau will remain in office as prime minister until a new leader is chosen. Leading contenders for the party's leadership include former central banker Mark Carney and former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, whose sudden resignation last month prompted Trudeau's decision to step down. Who Will Replace Justin Trudeau? “Following a comprehensive and secure national process, the Liberal Party of Canada will elect a new leader on March 9, ready to compete and win the 2025 election,” stated Sachit Mehra, President of the Liberal Party of Canada. This political shakeup comes at a challenging time for Canada, as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly referred to Canada as the 51st state and threatened to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian goods. The next Liberal leader could face a brief tenure as prime minister, as all three opposition parties have vowed to topple the Liberals' minority government through a no-confidence vote once Parliament reconvenes on March 24. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau resigns in the face of internal, external pressure Polls indicate the Liberals face slim chances in the upcoming election, with the latest Nanos survey showing the party trailing the opposition Conservatives by a margin of 45% to 23%. Trudeau, 53, the son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, announced his resignation on Monday amid dwindling support within his party and across the country. His unpopularity stemmed from various issues, including rising food and housing costs and increasing immigration. Last month, Trudeau informed Freeland that she would no longer serve as finance minister but could retain her roles as deputy prime minister and the key liaison for U.S.-Canada relations. Freeland resigned soon after, issuing a critical letter about the government, which proved to be the tipping point for Trudeau's leadership. Freeland has spent the past week consulting with colleagues about the way forward. Following her resignation, Trump referred to her as “totally toxic” and “not at all conducive to making deals.” Freeland had previously led Canada’s negotiations during the renegotiation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in Trump’s first term. Freeland, who is of Ukrainian descent, has also been a strong supporter of Ukraine in its conflict with Russia—a stance that has likely drawn Trump’s ire. A former journalist and liberal, Freeland represents a mix of qualities that Trump has publicly criticised. Justin Trudeau likely to resign this week Mark Carney, on the other hand, boasts an impressive resume. In 2012, he became the first non-British governor of the Bank of England since its founding in 1694. His appointment followed a successful tenure as governor of Canada’s central bank, where he was credited with helping Canada recover swiftly from the 2008 financial crisis. He also played a key role in steering the UK through Brexit. Although Carney has expressed interest in politics and the prime ministership, he lacks political experience. This week, he acknowledged the widespread support he has received and said he would discuss his decision with his family in the coming days. The Liberal Party's National Board of Directors released the leadership race rules on Thursday. The entry fee is set at $350,000 Canadian ($243,000), and candidates must declare their intention to run by January 23. Eligible voters must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents. The Liberals previously amended their membership rules to simplify the registration process for party members, including abolishing fees. However, some Members of Parliament have suggested stricter rules after an inquiry into foreign interference revealed incidents of non-Canadians voting in local nomination races. “Maintaining the integrity of our democratic process while encouraging broad participation remains a top priority for the Liberal Party of Canada,” the party noted in a statement.

Embattled Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation on Monday, citing a desire for new leadership. His departure marks the end of an era after nearly a decade in office. Trudeau's resignation comes amid declining approval and internal party pressure. He will remain PM though, till his party is able to choose a new leader.  He said that he has “one regret” as he announced he intends to resign — and that is the country’s election process, according to CNN. “If I have one regret, particularly as we approach this election — well, probably many regrets that I will think of,” Trudeau said. “But I do wish we’d been able to change the way we elect our governments in this country so that people could simply choose a second choice, or a third choice on the same ballot.” However, he may remain in office until the summer, depending on how long the ruling Liberal Party takes to select a new leader. Trudeau’s decision could precede the party's national caucus meeting on Wednesday, according to the Globe and Mail. Read More: Justin Trudeau likely to resign this week While Trudeau may seek to host the G7 summit in Alberta this June, his leadership faces mounting pressure. Over half of the 153 Liberal MPs in the House of Commons have called for his resignation, a figure nearing 100. With Parliament returning on January 27 and a no-confidence motion expected, Trudeau might seek to prorogue Parliament to facilitate the leadership transition. Hillary Clinton, George Soros and Denzel Washington received the highest US civilian honor After returning from a holiday in British Columbia, Trudeau has yet to comment publicly, with only a virtual Cabinet meeting scheduled for Monday. Meanwhile, potential successors include former Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, whose resignation in December intensified calls for Trudeau’s departure. Polls suggest Freeland could revive the party’s fortunes, with support rising from 16% under Trudeau to over 20%. Other contenders, including Mark Carney and Melanie Joly, appear less promising. The Conservatives currently lead the Liberals by over 20% in voter preference.

The Canadian government announced Thursday a ban on an additional 324 firearm models, continuing its efforts to restrict weapons deemed inappropriate for civilian use. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc characterized the targeted firearms as belonging “on the battlefield,” not in the hands of hunters or sport shooters. This latest move builds on the 2020 prohibition of 1,500 firearm models, a list that has since expanded to over 2,000 as new variants have been identified. The new ban addresses concerns from gun-control advocates that previous measures left many assault-style firearms unregulated. “These firearms can no longer be used,” LeBlanc stated. Guns for UkraineIn an unprecedented step, Canada is collaborating with Ukraine to donate some of the banned firearms to support its defense against Russia’s invasion. Defense Minister Bill Blair confirmed discussions with Ukrainian authorities, who expressed interest in the weapons. “Every bit of assistance we can offer to the Ukrainians is one step toward their victory,” Blair said. Planned Buyback ProgramThe federal government also reiterated its commitment to a national buyback program for prohibited firearms. The initiative, developed with provincial, territorial, and law enforcement agencies, aims to remove these weapons from private ownership. Read: Canada is already examining tariffs on certain US items following Trump's tariff threat A Response to Past TragediesThe announcement comes on the eve of the 35th anniversary of the 1989 École Polytechnique shooting in Montreal, where a gunman killed 14 women before taking his own life. The Ruger Mini-14 used in that attack was among the firearms banned in 2020. Nathalie Provost, a survivor of the attack, voiced her support for the new measures. “These are just killing weapons, war weapons, military weapons,” she said. “I’m proud we are doing something.” Opposition CriticismConservative leader Pierre Poilievre criticized the measures, accusing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government of targeting “licensed and law-abiding hunters and sport shooters” in a political stunt. Read more: Canada to reduce immigration targets as Trudeau acknowledges his policy failed Despite fewer mass shootings compared to the United States, Canada faces challenges with illegal firearms smuggled across the border, which are often linked to criminal activities. Source: With inputs from agencies