New Bangladesh Consulate General in Toronto to connect new generations to roots: Shahriar

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam has said the new consulate general in Toronto aims to connect the Bangladesh diaspora, especially the new generations, to their roots.

He formally inaugurated the Bangladesh Consulate General in Toronto on Wednesday.

The 49th Independence Day of Bangladesh was also celebrated on that day in the presence of Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. Consul General Nayem Uddin Ahmed hosted the event.

The new consulate began operations on Dec 17 last year.

The state minister unveiled the inaugural plaque of the consulate office located in Sheppard Avenue East.

He said 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 said the relations between Bangladesh and Canada are “historic and time-tested” and that opening of the new consulate general “symbolises strong bilateral relations".

He thanked the Ontario Government for declaring the month of March as ‘Bangladesh Heritage Month’ in Ontario.

Canada is becoming one of the major sources of students and skilled migrants from Bangladesh. Bangladesh also conferred the ‘Bangladesh Liberation War Honour’ on the former prime minister of Canada Pierre Elliott Trudeau in 2016.

Lieutenant Governor Dowdeswell, who is the British Queen Elizabeth II’s representative, commended Bangladesh opening the consulate general in Toronto.

She hoped it will work to connect the growing Bangladesh community in Ontario.

The event also included screening of a documentary on the development of Bangladesh, cultural programme, and cutting of the Independence Day cake.

Members of the Ontario Legislative Assembly, diplomats, intellectuals, high officials of the Ontario government, top executives from the private sector, businessmen, eminent persons from Bangladesh community, and students attended the event.

Prior to the inaugural ceremony, the lieutenant governor and the state minister had a separate meeting where they discussed the long-standing friendship between the countries, Rohingya influx, socio-economic development in Bangladesh, and other issues of mutual interests.

Canada is a constitutional monarchy with the queen as the sovereign and head of state, lieutenant governor is the queen’s representative while the prime minister is the head of government in the province.

The presence of the lieutenant governor is a “raremost pride” for a consulate in Toronto, the Bangladesh mission said in a statement.