Bangladesh must attain economic self-reliance and strengthen national unity to ensure a smooth and sustainable graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category, said Dr. Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Ministry of Finance.
He made the remarks while addressing the “Local Level Stakeholders Consultation on Inclusive, Smooth and Sustainable LDC Graduation” held today in Mymensingh.
The event was organised by the Economic Relations Division (ERD) under the “Support to Sustainable Graduation Project (SSGP)” in collaboration with the Mymensingh district administration.
Dr. Chowdhury emphasised that national solidarity is crucial for sustaining economic progress beyond LDC status.
“Economic self-reliance will be the key driver in navigating post-graduation challenges,” he said.
Divisional Commissioner of Mymensingh Md. Mokhtar Ahmed, attending as a special guest, highlighted the resilience and growing capacity of Bangladesh’s private sector in overcoming previous hurdles.
He expressed optimism that the same confidence would help the country face the upcoming transition.
Deputy Commissioner of Mymensingh Mofidul Alam, who chaired the session, stressed the importance of technological advancement, quality control, branding, and supply chain integration—particularly in agriculture and regional industries—to capitalize on post-graduation opportunities.
Additional Secretary of ERD and Project Director of SSGP A. H. M. Jahangir delivered the welcome remarks, underlining the need to sensitize local private sector stakeholders, especially export-oriented industries, about the opportunities and challenges arising from LDC graduation.
Presentations were delivered by Dr. Md. Rezaul Bashar Siddique, former Additional Secretary and Component Manager of SSGP, who provided an overview of the LDC graduation process and its implications.
Another key presentation on “Strategies for Smooth and Sustainable Graduation and the Role of Local Level Stakeholders” was given by Dr. Mostafa Abid Khan, former member of the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission and SSGP Component Manager.
Other notable panelists included former Additional Secretary and international trade expert Nesar Ahmed; Professor Dr. Maleka Bilkis, Principal of Muminunnisa Government Mohila College; Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Reza Md. Golam Masum Prodhan; Mymensingh Press Club General Secretary Shaiful Islam; and business leader AKM Mahbubul Alam.
Speakers at the workshop called for the establishment of high-speed rail connectivity between Dhaka and Mymensingh, expansion of technical and vocational education, and diversification of exports in terms of both products and destinations.
They also stressed the need to unlock Mymensingh’s agricultural potential by ensuring fair prices for farmers, enhancing access to preservation and storage technologies, offering training programs, and integrating farmers into the agricultural value chain.
Bangladesh met all three criteria for LDC graduation during the UN’s Committee for Development Policy (CDP) reviews in 2018 and 2021. The country is scheduled to officially graduate from the LDC group by 2026 after a five-year preparatory period.
To ensure a smooth transition, the Government has formulated a Smooth Transition Strategy (STS) and launched the SSGP under the ERD to assess potential impacts, build institutional capacity, and promote awareness at home and abroad.
As part of this initiative, ERD is conducting a series of local-level consultations across the country to engage grassroots stakeholders in discussions on how they can contribute to ensuring a sustainable and inclusive graduation process.
The Mymensingh workshop brought together officials from ERD, SSGP, the district administration, private sector representatives, and civil society members.