Bangladesh's Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir has urged stronger international support to ensure the country's smooth, sustainable, and stable graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category, requesting a three-year extension to the preparatory period. During bilateral meetings at the UN Headquarters with ECOSOC President and Permanent Representative of Nepal Ambassador Lok Bahadur Thapa and ECOSOC Vice-President and Permanent Representative of Algeria Ambassador Amar Bendjama, Muktadir explained the rationale behind the extension request. He cited Bangladesh's ongoing economic and political transition, global economic uncertainties, the energy crisis, disruptions in supply chains, the multidimensional impacts of climate change, and other external challenges as reasons for the request. Muktadir reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to graduating from the LDC category, emphasizing that the extension would help consolidate structural reforms, strengthen governance, restore macroeconomic stability, reinforce the financial sector, create a more investment-friendly environment, improve infrastructure, and effectively implement a comprehensive Smooth Transition Strategy.
The Bangladesh delegation, which included Prime Minister's Adviser on Finance and Planning Dr. Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Planning Zonaed Abdur Rahim Saki, Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, President of the Leather Goods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB) Syed Nasim Manzur, and President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Mahmud Hasan Khan, emphasized the need for additional time to prepare for graduation. ECOSOC President and Vice-President highlighted the global challenges facing developing countries in their graduation from the LDC category and expressed their commitment to working closely with Bangladesh to ensure its smooth, sustainable, and stable transition.
