Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has instructed officials to take all necessary steps to ensure that no sector of the country is negatively impacted following Bangladesh’s graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status.
“We have already made the decision regarding LDC graduation. Now we must move forward with full speed,” said Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, quoting Prof Yunus after a meeting held with experts on the matter at the Chief Adviser’s Office on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters at the Foreign Service Academy, Shafiqul Alam said the meeting lasted nearly two hours. During the discussions, Prof Yunus emphasized the importance of securing maximum benefits during the transition process, expressing confidence in Bangladesh’s ability to graduate smoothly.
He said Prof Yunus highlighted Bangladesh’s potential to become a regional hub for manufacturing and economic growth, and discussed strategies to strengthen that position after leaving the LDC category.
According to the press secretary, the Chief Adviser also stressed the need for continuous monitoring by a dedicated team to avoid any disruption in the graduation process, calling it a “very critical stage.”
Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, Dr Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, also spoke to journalists after the meeting. He said a range of precautionary steps were identified to support the country’s transition.
He noted that Bangladesh can draw confidence from the experiences of other less-strong economies that successfully graduated from LDC status.
“We are confident there will be no major issues, but we’re taking preventive actions,” he added.
Dr Chowdhury also mentioned the government’s initiative to establish a dedicated and powerful trade negotiation body, as no such specific agency currently exists.
When asked about economic diplomacy efforts, he said the work is ongoing, though not everything can be publicly disclosed. “Economic diplomacy always comes with both challenges and opportunities,” he said.
He urged people to view the graduation process in a positive light and not with hesitation.
Bangladesh is expected to officially graduate from the LDC category to a developing country in November 2026.
BDST: 2110 HRS, April 15, 2025
MSK
