Half-Time at UNGA — Shaping Strategy in the Margins
The Bangladesh-Canada Case
It’s half-time at the UN GA, and a policy magazine article made me reflect on Canada and Bangladesh. Louise Blais, former Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations, recently highlighted the importance of diplomacy in the margins — the behind-the-scenes conversations that often shape real-world outcomes. This year’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) presented a key example of this dynamic, especially in the Bangladesh-Canada Case Example
The press release from Trudeau’s office concerned the Summit of the Future and accelerating the importance of progress towards the UNSDGs. While the headlines may have been dominated by larger global issues, their discussion on expanding student visas, institutional reform, and youth empowerment demonstrated how meaningful progress is often quietly achieved.
Growing up in Canada, I’ve experienced firsthand the challenges of accessing educational funding for international students, particularly for those coming from countries like Bangladesh. Despite contributing to Canadian communities for years, the path to financial support remained elusive. The conversation between Yunus and Trudeau about expanding student visas is more than just a bureaucratic gesture — it holds the potential to transform lives. Canadian universities are renowned globally, and expanding scholarships and visa access for Bangladeshi students can help nurture a future generation of leaders. These students can bring back the skills and knowledge necessary for Bangladesh’s ongoing development, contributing to both its institutional and economic progress.
Their meeting also turned to the critical topic of institutional reform in Bangladesh. Former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin once remarked, “government should only do what only government can do,” a guiding principle that helped revitalize Canadian healthcare. Bangladesh, now under the transitional leadership of Yunus, faces a similar challenge: the need to rebuild institutions that will ensure long-term stability. Institutional reform is not a matter of just passing laws — it’s about changing the very culture of governance. This is a slow, deliberate process requiring sustained leadership, repetition, and persistence.
Changing institutional culture is not easy. From my own experience as an executive, I know that people are often resistant to change in their daily work. Real reform requires consistency and ongoing commitment from leadership to guide individuals through the transition, while decentralizing power to ensure accountability comes naturally. In Bangladesh, where institutional decay has been an enduring challenge, Yunus faces a monumental task, but Canada’s support could be instrumental in facilitating this transformation by sharing knowledge, resources, institutional coaches and recognizing Bangladesh’s efforts.
On the recent non-confidence vote launched by the Conservative Party in Ottawa, Canada’s opposition leader, Pierre Poilievre, should take note of the importance of choosing policy over politics. Real, lasting change comes from putting aside short-term political maneuvers in favor of meaningful institutional reform, just as Martin did with healthcare. Similarly in Bangladesh, Yunus must prioritize policies that strengthen governance, accountability, and transparency if the country’s future is to be secured — and he may need to risk his global reputation to get the job done.
In both Canada and Bangladesh, the topic of reconciliation has emerged as a vital issue. Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission has laid out 94 Calls to Action to address the legacy of colonialism and its impact on Indigenous communities, yet progress remains slow. From August to September 2024, the country saw renewed tensions following the deaths of six Indigenous people in police encounters, including Tammy Bateman and Hoss Lightning. These incidents have reignited calls for action on systemic issues of police violence and inequity in the justice system.
Bangladesh, too, faces its own reconciliation struggles, particularly in relation to its Indigenous Jumma people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). In September 2024, the region witnessed renewed violence between Bengali settlers and the Jumma community, resulting in the deaths of four Indigenous individuals and the destruction of homes and businesses. Local leaders, such as Pallab Chakma, have urged the Bangladeshi government to implement the 1997 CHT Peace Accord and to bring justice to those affected. The unrest in CHT underscores the ongoing marginalization of Indigenous communities in Bangladesh and the urgent need for meaningful reconciliation efforts.
Finally, one cannot talk about diplomacy, without mentioning world trade. Canada exports products such as pulses, wheat, potash, and aircraft-related equipment to Bangladesh, with potash being a significant export since bi-lateral relations were established in 1972. In return, Bangladesh mainly exports ready-made garments, textiles, footwear, and headgear to Canada, benefitting from duty-free access since 2003. Sources suggest there is potential for more trade between the two countries, including leather goods, dry foods, ceramic items, jute products and even frozen fish. While trade did not make the headlines, it is definitely a priority for any Head of Government, so hopefully we hear more on this soon.
To conclude, not everything is about soundbites inside big buildings or quotes in front of cameras, the discussions between Yunus and Trudeau highlight why diplomacy in the margins matters. Expanding educational opportunities, fostering institutional reform, and addressing broader geopolitical strategies may not always make headlines, but they are the foundation for a deeper, more enduring partnership between Bangladesh and Canada. These quieter conversations are where real progress is made, and where long-term cooperation is forged.