Canada for global alliance to combat fallout from coronavirus pandemic
Canada has proposed a global alliance to tackle the challenges in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.
"Such an alliance would be helpful to address the immense challenges that we are facing today," Canadian Foreign Minister François-Philippe Champagne told Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen during a telephone call Wednesday evening.
The Canadian minister assured Bangladesh of standing by the country in any crisis, including the repatriation of the Rohingyas, according to a media statement from the foreign ministry. He lauded Bangladesh for sheltering some 1.1 million Rohingyas.
Momen expressed concern over cancellation of apparel purchase orders worth about $3 billion from Bangladesh by some major brands of the western countries, saying that jobs of nearly 40 lakh RMG workers, mostly women, now remains in uncertainty. He sought the assistance of Canada, one of the major RMG buyers, in this regard.
Besides, Momen also sought Canada's assistance in the reintegration of Bangladeshi migrants, many of who might lose their jobs overseas and return home due to the coronavirus pandemic.
He requested the Canadian minister to waive the tuition fees of Bangladeshi students in Canada.
Momen also sought Canadian investment in Bangladesh, saying that Bangladesh has a huge number of talented and young IT professionals. Bangladesh is also creating economic zones, which provide lucrative facilities for the investors, he added.
He proposed that Bangladesh and Canada can jointly work for the development of Bangladesh's agriculture sector. Champagne said they would actively consider this proposal.
Momen also requested the Canadian minister to arrange the repatriation of Nur Chowdhury, who killed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
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