Bangladesh Consulate General inaugurated in Toronto

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam inaugurated the Consulate General of Bangladesh in Toronto and celebrated the 49th Independence and National Day on Tuesday. Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario graced the occasion as the guest of honour. 

Dowdeswell delivered a speech on the event and expressed her congratulations on the opening of the Bangladesh Consulate General in Toronto, noting that inauguration of a consulate happens only once in a lifetime, therefore, she is glad to be present at the occasion. She expressed hope that the new consulate will work to connect the growing Bangladeshi community in Ontario.

The lieutenant governor of Ontario recognised Bangladesh's strides in materialising the dream to be a developed country along with Bangladesh's achievement in SDGs and women empowerment. She also offered her appreciation for Bangladesh's response to the Rohingya crisis.

The event commenced with welcome speech by the Consul General of Bangladesh, Nayem Uddin Ahmed followed by the Official Declaration of Inauguration by State Minister Md Shahriar Alam.

The state minister said that the opening of the new Consulate General was a commitment of the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the Bangladesh diaspora living in Greater Toronto and south-western provinces of Canada.

He lauded the Ontario government for declaring the month of March as "Bangladesh Heritage Month" in the province.

High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Canada Mizanur Rahman also spoke on the occasion.

Prior to the inaugural ceremony, Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell and State Minister Md Shahriar Alam had a separate meeting where they discussed Rohingya influx, socio-economic development and topics of mutual interests.