High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Canada H.E. Dr. Khalilur Rahman presented his Credentials to His Excellency the Right Honourable Richard Wagner, P.C., Administrator of the Government of Canada today on 22 February 2021. The event held virtually due to the ongoing pandemic, was conducted by Mr. Ian McCowan, Secretary to the Governor General. Afterwards, the Chief of Protocol of Canada, Mr. Stewart Wheeler introduced the newly appointed Bangladesh High Commissioner H.E. Dr. Khalilur Rahman to the Administrator.
As per the ceremonial procedure, High Commissioner of Bangladesh Dr. Rahman then extended the greetings of Hon’ble President of Bangladesh and informed the Administrator that his Letter of Credence and the Letter of Recall of his predecessor were sent to his Office in advance.
In a one-minute time allocated for the High Commissioner, Dr. Rahman mentioned that this year Bangladesh is celebrating twin historic occasions – the Birth Centenary of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of its Independence. He recalled the support extended by the then Canadian Government and Canadian citizens during our Great War of Independence in 1971 under the charismatic and visionary leadership of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He added that the Father of the Nation dreamt to build “Sonar Bangla”, a Golden Bengal, as a democratic, multicultural and secular nation, free from hunger and deprivation, which he could not realize due to his assassination along with his family members, including women, pregnant young women and children.
He mentioned that the Bangladesh and Canada shared the common values and principles of democracy, secularism, human rights, equality, justice and rule of law. He added that he would work together with the Canadian Government to achieve shared goals, contribute to ensure global peace and security, and bring the perpetrators who committed murders and all types of crimes against humanity, to justice.
Dr. Rahman said that spectacular socio-economic development has taken place in Bangladesh over the last 12 years under the dynamic and visionary leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He added that today Bangladesh is a Role Model for Development for many other nations. He termed Canada as an important and valued development partner for Bangladesh and has its own share in our development journey being led by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to realize the unfinished Dream of the Father of the Nation by transforming the country into a Developed Nation by 2041.
In conclusion, Dr. Rahman added that it is an honour for him to represent Bangladesh in Canada. He added that Bangladesh and Canada enjoy excellent relations. He committed himself to working closely with the Canadian authorities to take the existing relations to a new height during his time as the High Commissioner in Canada,
At the end, accepting the credentials, the Administrator congratulated the newly appointed High Commissioner of Bangladesh and expressed his commitment to working together. The Administrator also extended greetings to Hon’ble President and the Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh on the twin occasions of the Birth Centenary of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of its Independence through the newly appointed High Commissioner of Bangladesh.
Following the welcome address by the Administrator, the Secretary to the Governor General thanked everybody and formally concluded the ceremony.
