Dhaka: New Canadian high commissioner to Bangladesh Benoit-Pierre Laramee presented his credentials to President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhban in Dhaka on Monday.

Welcoming the envoy, the president wished the high commissioner all the best and expressed hope that the relations between Bangladesh and Canada will reach a new height during his tenure, president’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim told UNB.

Abdul Hamid appreciated the invaluable contribution of Canada in the development strides of Bangladesh, particularly in areas such as maternal and child health, education, rural electrification, communications infrastructure and social development.

He added that Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) had been a familiar name in Bangladesh for its various development programmes throughout the country until its dissolution in 2013.

The President expressed happiness at the Canadian parliamentarian Metthew Kellway’s request to establish International Mother Language Day monument in Toronto city in memory of Language movement martyrs of Bangladesh.

Benoit-Pierre Laramee said Canada will continue to cooperate Bangladesh in its endeavor to be a middle-income country.

He apprised the President that he visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum and Liberation War Museum after his arrival in Dhaka.

Secretaries concerned to the President’s office were present.

Earlier, on his arrival at Bangabhaban, the envoy was given a guard of honor by a contingent of the President’s Guard Regiment.

Before the assignment, Benoit-Pierre Laramee worked as the High Commissioner of Canada to Cameroon.