Bangladesh, Canada explore new avenues for defence cooperation

Bangladesh and Canada have highlighted opportunities to strengthen institutional engagement and explore new avenues for defence cooperation to support regional peace, security and stability on Monday.

Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Ajit Singh and Trade Commissioner Kamal Uddin met with Bangladesh's Defence Adviser to the Prime Minister Brigadier General (retd) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam at the Armed Forces Division (AFD) and discussed issues of mutual interest.

The meeting provided an opportunity to review Bangladesh-Canada defence relations, ongoing cooperation with the Bangladesh Armed Forces and prospects for strengthening practical government-to-government engagement, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The discussions covered training, capacity building, aerospace, defence technology and industrial development, with both sides exploring opportunities to expand cooperation in these areas.

The two sides also discussed Canada's new Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), its engagement in the Indo-Pacific region and Bangladesh's important contributions to UN peacekeeping missions.

The Canadian High Commissioner thanked the Bangladesh Armed Forces for what he described as their critical role in maintaining stability and facilitating a peaceful transition to democracy in Bangladesh over the past two years.

Canada remains committed to deepening its longstanding partnership with Bangladesh and working with the country's armed forces and security agencies to advance practical and mutually beneficial cooperation, he said.