Canada has announced new financial assistance of $272.1 million for Bangladesh and the broader Indo-Pacific region.

On Sunday (March 9), Canada`s Minister of International Development, Ahmed Hussen, made the announcement, highlighting Canada’s commitment to strengthening its long-standing relationship with Bangladesh and the Indo-Pacific.

According to a report by Canada’s prominent news outlet Global News, the assistance will be allocated to 14 different projects, focusing on: Gender equality, women’s sexual and reproductive health rights, inclusive education, skills training, and climate change resilience.

In particular, the "Women’s Empowerment in Nursing" project has been allocated $6.3 million over three years to support women in the nursing sector.

Minister Ahmed Hussen stated, “Through this support, we are reinforcing our commitment to providing essential healthcare, empowering women, and combating climate change to create a brighter future for the global community.”

This financial commitment comes at a time when Canada’s Liberal government is preparing for a leadership transition ahead of the spring national elections.

Currently, hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshi-origin citizens reside in Canada. Many of them view this aid announcement as a sign of hope and an opportunity to further strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations.