The United Nations Committee for Development Policy (CDP) has recommended favourable consideration of Bangladesh’s request to extend its preparatory period for graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category until November 2029.
In a communication to the Bangladesh government, CDP Chair Professor José Antonio Ocampo said the committee considered it appropriate for the UN General Assembly to approve a three-year extension of the country’s graduation timeline.
However, the committee stressed that Bangladesh must use the additional time to accelerate key domestic reforms aimed at addressing structural vulnerabilities in its economy.
Bangladesh had formally requested the extension on 18 February 2026, seeking to postpone its graduation from the LDC category until 24 November 2029. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina later wrote to the UN Secretary-General in April seeking support for the proposal.
According to the CDP assessment, Bangladesh has surpassed the graduation thresholds by a “significant margin” under all three UN criteria and faces little immediate risk of falling below them. Nevertheless, the committee warned that global uncertainties — including the Middle East crisis, volatile energy markets, supply chain disruptions and shifting international trade conditions — could affect the country’s preparedness for graduation.
The committee said the extension would allow Bangladesh more time to evaluate the impact of the changing global environment and prepare for the loss of preferential trade benefits and other international support measures available to LDCs.
The CDP also welcomed Bangladesh’s commitment to implementing its Smooth Transition Strategy (STS), aimed at ensuring a sustainable transition after graduation.
At the same time, the committee urged Dhaka to continue reforms in several key areas, including financial sector stability, tax collection, domestic resource mobilisation, economic diversification and private sector competitiveness.
“The extension should not be seen as an opportunity to delay reforms, but rather as a catalyst to accelerate them,” the committee said.
The panel also called on the international community to continue supporting Bangladesh through concessional financing, technical assistance and extended trade-related support measures during both the preparatory and post-graduation phases.
The Bangladesh government welcomed the committee’s recommendation, expressing confidence that continued reforms and international cooperation would help ensure a smooth and sustainable graduation from the LDC category.