Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dr Lilly Nicholls on Monday met BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and discussed various issues relating to Bangladesh’s upcoming national election and human rights situation. Nicholls arrived at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office at 1:30pm and had a 'closed-door' meeting there with a BNP delegation, led by Fakhrul. BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Organising Secretary Shama Obaed were present at the meeting that ended around 3:10pm.  Read more: BNP gears up for its 7th divisional rally in Sylhet Later, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury briefed reporters about the meeting and subjects they discussed. “We had a very good discussion. We talked about all issues relating to Bangladesh’s present perspective, especially, human rights, our elections, and the rule of law and security of public life,” he said. Khosru said Canada attaches great importance to human rights, democratic rights, security of public life, the rule of law, and good governance. “Canada and some other countries always take a strong stance on these issues.” He said Canada has been bilaterally telling the Bangladesh government at different times that human rights have been violated here in the country. Like the people of Bangladesh, democratic countries, multilateral bodies, and human rights organisations all over the world, Canada is also concerned over many issues since it gives importance to democracy and human rights.   Asked what Canada said about the next polls, Khosru said he cannot elaborate on what they discussed inside. “We’ve discussed all the issues relating to Bangladesh’s current political perspective. But there is no scope to say elaborately what we discussed.” He said BNP has no reason to go to the next polls under the current government and BNP is strict on this stance. Read more: BNP ready to deliver its message in AL's backyard He said a caretaker government must be established ousting the current government for ensuring a credible election where people will be able to freely exercise their voting rights. “We’re least bothered about what Awami League, the Election Commission and others, say about the next polls.” Khosru said Bangladesh and Canada have long been maintaining diversified relations. He said Bangladesh exports goods worth about $2 billion to Canada as the country gave Bangladesh duty-free market access to Canada, for most goods, in 2003. “This facility was given during the BNP government and as the then commerce minister I negotiated it with Canada.” Besides, the BNP leader said Canada is also an important destination for Bangladesh to import many essential food items, including wheat, and pulses.  ”Canada has also now become a popular destination for our children for studies.” A good number of Bangladeshis have been living in Canada and they are contributing to that country’s economy and society."

Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dr Lilly Nichols has appreciated the facilities required for “inclusive learning” at the new campus of the Aga Khan Academy. “When I met the new batch of Aga Khan Academy teachers, I was immediately impressed by their palpable enthusiasm to inspire a new generation of students committed to lifelong learning and global citizenship,” she said while meeting the teachers at the Academy recently. With the continued support and facilitation of relevant Ministries and agencies of the government, the Academy is planning to admit the first cohort of students to select classes in August 2022, with the phased opening of the campus to occur over the next three years, said the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) on Saturday. Also read: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka need to be seen as strategic partners: Envoy

Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dr Lilly Nicholls has said she is impressed by the volume of public health research of icddr,b and how easily the research gets translated to low-cost solutions. Dr Lilly Nicholls paid her first visit to International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) at Mohakhali on Wednesday. She commended the incredible partnership between icddr,b and Canada that spans over two decades.

Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dr. Lilly Nicholls on Tuesday said they are proud to be contributing to Bangladesh’s food security efforts noting that Canadian wheat is the best quality in the world. She said Canada is one of the top exporters of high-quality wheat to Bangladesh. Bangladesh is an important market for Canadian agricultural products.  The High Commission of Canada in Bangladesh and Cereals Canada officially launched “Cereals Canada’s Guide to Milling, Analytical Testing and Baking of Canadian Wheat” in Bangla and English. Read: Dhaka trashes NIKKEI Asia report as “completely false, misleading” The release of the latest Canadian wheat milling handbook will help millers and bakers how best to use Canadian wheat and flour to make high-quality food products. In 2021, Canada exported over US$793 million in products to Bangladesh, over US$628 million of which was agriculture products, according to the Canadian High Commission in Dhaka. Wheat is an important element in these exports, and Bangladesh is Canada’s seventh-largest customer for its high quality wheat, it said.

Resident High Commissioner-designate of Canada Lilly Nicholls presented her credentials to President Abdul Hamid him at Bangabhaban on Thursday. The president told the new envoy that Bangladesh has always maintained an excellent relation with Canada. He said the relationship is expanding in various fields, particularly in trade and investment,  Joynal Abedin, president’s press secretary told reporters. President Hamid recalled Canadian’s co-operation in ensuring duty-free- quota-free market access to Bangladeshi products to Canada, terming Canada as one of the country’s largest export destinations. Hamid also thanked the Canadian government for providing support with vaccines and other medical equipment during the COVID-19 outbreak. The high commissioner lauded the Bangladesh’s humanitarian role in sheltering Rohingya people, calling it a brave step and an example of humanitarian act. She also told the president that her country would continue to provide necessary support to Bangladesh’s development.   She hoped that trade between the two countries would further increase during her tenure. President's Office Secretary Sampad Barua, Military Secretary Major General SM Salah Uddin Islam, Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin, Secretary (attachment) Md Wahidul Islam Khan were present on the occasion.

Lilly Nicholls has been appointed as the next Canadian high commissioner to Bangladesh. She will take the place of Benoit Préfontaine. Read: Bangladesh envoy to Jamaica presents credentials Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly Thursday announced several diplomatic appointments including, the appointment of the country's new high commissioner to Bangladesh. Benoit will replace Nicole Girard as consul general in Bengaluru, India.