United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s scheduled graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026 faces growing uncertainty, with experts warning that deep structural weaknesses and an inadequate transition strategy pose serious risks to the economy. The remarks were made at a seminar on ‘LDC Graduation: Challenges & Prospects’ held on Sunday (9th November 2025) at a city hotel, organised by the Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BMCCI). Senior policymakers, economists, and industry leaders to discuss strategic imperatives for the post-LDC transition, including trade competitiveness, institutional readiness, and inclusive development joined the seminar. Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman attended it as the guest of honour, while Professor Dr Selim Raihan, Executive Director of SANEM, delivered the keynote presentation. Economist Dr Zaidi Sattar, Chairman of the Policy Research Institute (PRI), chaired the seminar. Read more: Tarique for urgent steps to tackle post-LDC graduation challenges Other speakers included Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Research Director at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD); Dr A Razzaque, Chairman of Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID); Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), President of the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI); and Faruque Hassan, former President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman said, “We request the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to visit Bangladesh to assess the latest situation ahead of the potential graduation. In addition to the EU and the USA, the government is in talks with Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and other countries to boost bilateral trade and diversify export destinations.” Dr Raihan highlighted that Bangladesh’s readiness for LDC graduation is under scrutiny amid global economic volatility and concerns over losing LDC-specific international support measures. “The core risk lies in the trade sector, given Bangladesh’s heavy reliance on Ready-Made Garment (RMG) exports and duty-free, quota-free (DFQF) market access. The erosion of these trade privileges could cost the country billions in lost earnings and place additional pressure on foreign reserves,” he said. Read more: Encouraged to see advanced preparation in Bangladesh for post-LDC graduation era: ADB Vice President He pointed to persistent domestic structural challenges, including macroeconomic stress from low foreign reserves, fiscal gaps, high inflation, and global volatility; structural flaws such as weak tax collection, a fragile banking sector, high export concentration, and limited foreign direct investment (FDI); and reform deficits driven by entrenched ‘rent-seeking networks’ among political, business, and bureaucratic elites that continue to obstruct meaningful policy change Dr Raihan also critiqued the government’s Smooth Transition Strategy (STS), describing it as ‘overly broad’ with an ‘overextended vision’ that risks becoming an unenforced policy document. While the private sector advocates for a three-year deferral to gain ‘critical breathing space’ for compliance and to fast-track stalled reforms, securing a delay would be diplomatically challenging. The UN Committee for Development Policy (CDP) requires evidence of ‘unforeseen and unmanageable’ shocks—not merely delayed reforms or poor preparedness—to grant a deferral. Experts also caution that seeking a delay could signal economic weakness, undermine investor confidence, and entrench complacency rather than promote essential reforms. Dr Raihan concluded, “The real question is not timing but political will. Any deferral request must be transparent, evidence-based, and paired with a credible, time-bound reform agenda to ensure post-LDC resilience, rather than serving as a retreat.” Read more: Munshiganj contingent of Advisory Council joins district-level consultation on LDC graduation

The United Nations (UN) has said it will support an 'independent readiness assessment' for Bangladesh's graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, following a formal request from the country’s interim government. "I have reaffirmed our full commitment to supporting Bangladesh in ensuring a smooth and sustainable graduation from the LDC category," said United Nations Under-Secretary-General Rabab Fatima on Monday, announcing that her office will support the independent readiness assessment. She commended Bangladesh’s steadfast support to UNOHRLLS. "I am honoured to meet Chief Adviser Prof Yunus." Fatima, who also serves as the UN High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States, met the Chief Adviser at his hotel in New York on Monday (US time). SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, and Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury were present at the meeting. The readiness assessment is expected to begin within a month and be completed by mid-January, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told UNB, adding that it will help make an informed decision. He said it will be conducted jointly by an international consultant and a Bangladeshi expert to ensure a comprehensive and balanced evaluation. The assessment will involve extensive consultations with key stakeholders, including government officials, business chambers, development experts, civil society leaders, donors, financial institutions, and political representatives, to determine whether Bangladesh is adequately prepared for the transition. Chief Adviser Prof Yunus welcomed the initiative, emphasising the need for empirical evidence before proceeding with the graduation. “It has become an emotional issue,” Prof Yunus said, highlighting the importance of objective data in informing policy decisions. In response, Fatima noted that the UN's most recent economic data on Bangladesh is over two years old. "A lot has changed since then," she said, underscoring the urgency of reassessing the country’s current economic landscape and for making an informed decision. Prof Yunus also expressed concern over the future of Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical industry, which has significantly benefited from trade preferences tied to its LDC status. He observed that graduation could put the sector at risk if adequate transition measures are not in place. Prof Yunus seeks WTO support for Bangladesh’s smooth LDC graduation

Top business leaders in a meeting with BNP on Sunday voiced their concerns about the immediate impact of graduating from Least Developed Country (LDC) status and advocated for a three-year deferment. “We have heard from the business community about the advantages and disadvantages. From this, it is quite clear that moving towards LDC graduation at this moment will not be helpful for Bangladesh’s present and future trade, business, and investment,” said BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury after the meeting. He said the statistics presented by the previous Awami League government in the context of LDC graduation have now come under question. “Taking everything into account—Bangladesh’s future, economy, investment, business, and trade—if we truly want to keep moving forward towards the vision of a new Bangladesh, then at this moment LDC graduation needs to be put on hold,” the BNP leader said. He mentioned that the business leaders discussed with them the necessity of deferring LDC graduation for now. Khosru, who attended the meeting, said the business leaders also suggested that the government should formally write to the United Nations on this issue—clearly stating whether Bangladesh is genuinely ready for graduation at this stage. He said the interim government needs to send a letter to the UN so that its representatives can come to Bangladesh and directly assess the ground reality of the country’s readiness. Earlier, an 11-member business delegation, led by BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu, met BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office around 5pm. After nearly the hour-long meeting, Amir Khosru and Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu talked to reporters about the outcome. Other members of the business delegation included Tapan Chowdhury, AK Azad, Syed Nasim Manzur, Kamran Tanvirur Rahman, Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, Taskeen Ahmed, Mohammad Hatem, Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, and Dr Rashid Ahmed Hossaini. Khosru said that almost all the leaders of Bangladesh’s business community, who drive the country’s economy, met Fakhrul and mainly discussed two issues—LDC graduation and the labour issue. BNP’s Rizvi accuses Jamaat of trying to build ‘state within the state’

Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi has highlighted five key areas that Bangladesh needs to focus on to effectively address the challenge of LDC graduation, acknowledging that the fact of graduation is unavoidable. "So, what do we need to do? Acknowledge that the fact of graduation is unavoidable. Even if it is delayed by a couple of years, it does not change our book of work," he said while delivering the keynote speech at the ILO Asia-Pacific Conference on Labour and LDC Issues in Bangkok on Tuesday. In fact, he said, the changing world-order of aid and tariffs in just the last few months should make it clear that there are fewer unilateral, non-reciprocal, unconditional favours out there. The Envoy said no-one will say: please enjoy these privileges, continue to access their markets, protect their own markets, and do whatever they like with labour, environmental or intellectual property standards. "The best we can do is to try to ensure a smooth transition as opposed to a sudden, “cliff switch” in our terms of trade," Siddiqi said. He not only acknowledged but also emphasised the importance of embracing the opportunities that come with graduation. Structural reforms too slow to meet needs: Lutfey Siddiqi "Remember, we have sound fundamentals in terms of people and location and we should be attracting considerable investments if we get this right. We are starting with a positive vision, a recipe for reforms, which should quickly move onto a time-bound roadmap of who needs to do what by when," Siddiqi said. He said they need to diversify exports and this will require more deliberate sales and marketing of existing products and building the capacity to make new products. The Envoy said creation of new products and industries will require new investment, especially foreign investment. "That in turn will require practical reforms in logistics, customs, ports, inland waterways, airports ... And that will require reforms in public administration - in the way the government operates - including nationwide digital processes that will formulate large parts of the informal sector," he mentioned. Siddiqi said they have to negotiate free trade agreements or economic partnership agreements with key countries so that they obtain friction-free access to their markets. Increasingly, he said, these agreements entail multiple chapters, comprehensively covering a wide range of topics beyond tariffs to include labour standards and movement of people. Siddiqi said skills and training needs urgent focus: targeted training to help workers and entrepreneurs to face competition and meet new demand in specialist areas. "I was actually in Japan last week partly to help conclude our first ever major FTA/EPA with them, but also to help establish a structured process through which we can send 100,000 skilled workers in targeted vocations over there," the Envoy said. He said their most important export markets - the European Union for example - will only extend preferential access to their markets (what’s known as GSP Plus) if they explicitly and verifiably upgrade the standards, especially labour standards. "Conversely, if we can demonstrate credible progress in the advancement of those standards, we are likely to receive a sympathetic ear when we ask for transitional privileges," Siddiqi said. In a post-uprising Bangladesh, the labour reforms agenda is a moral imperative, he said, adding that Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus’ government is committed to promoting dignity and decency in the workplace because that is the right thing to do, consistent with our values and our mandate. Govt working with ILO for decent condition of labours in EPZs: Lutfey Siddiqi "For the first time in history, we stood up a national-level Labour Reform Commission alongside the fundamental commissions looking at constitutional, parliamentary or judiciary reforms," Siddiqi said. And these are being taken through a consensus-building process with all political parties ahead of the elections, he said. The business community supports the government's labour reforms agenda for their own enlightened self-interest: the fact that it has a direct bearing on their access to export markets. "Sure, we’re nervous about possible risks in execution and implementation. But let’s be clear: negotiating an extension to LDC graduation or negotiating favourable post-LDC terms will not be easy for a song as we have an Article 26 complaint hanging over us at the ILO governing board," Siddiqi said. "The good news is that we expect to have completed the bulk of our obligations under the roadmap agreed with the ILO: both in terms of legislation and in the conduct of labour relations," he said. Siddiqi said the three Rs that guide his approach every day. "We have to put rights, relations and resilience at the centre of everything that we do. Please wish us luck!."

Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Dr Anisuzzaman Chowdhury on Saturday said Bangladesh is not in a position to defer its graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category, given the country’s current economic and social conditions. He made the remarks while speaking at a seminar titled ‘LDC Graduation and Bangladesh’s Preparedness’, organised by the Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF) at its Paltan auditorium. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, BKMEA President Muhammad Hatem and economist Dr M Masrur Reaz were present at the event. Senior Vice-President of BGMEA Inamul Haq Khan and Chief Executive Officer of the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries Md Mustafiz Rahman also spoke at the seminar, sharing recommendations from their respective industry sectors. Dr Anisuzzaman said the interim government will not process any proposal for a deferred LDC graduation because such a decision should be taken by the next elected government. He said Bangladesh is in a position where an application to delay graduation is unlikely to be accepted by the UN Council, as it would require the support of a majority of the 193 member states. Dr Anisuzzaman suggested that businesses study the implications of LDC graduation in greater depth, pointing out that not all sectors will be affected. Some markets, such as those in Europe, may reduce certain facilities three years after graduation. Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said Bangladesh missed the opportunity for capacity building and proper planning during the ‘golden period’ from 2021 to 2024. He urged the private sector to work on capacity building and support the government in creating a smooth graduation roadmap so the export sector can enhance its capacity, as well as labour and environmental compliance standards. Referring to the Rana Plaza disaster, Shafiqul said garment exporters improved safety and security due to pressure from buyers. Similarly, the private sector must strengthen compliance in Bangladesh’s manufacturing industries, as several laws and requirements now govern access to different global markets. Shafiqul also encouraged entrepreneurs to be bold in facing risks and challenges to achieve sustainable growth and profits with international buyers. Citing Cambodia as an example, he said buyers there pay US$208 per worker, yet export orders remain steady. In Bangladesh, workers receive only US$105, yet businesses claim higher wages would lead to a loss of orders. “This is not a matter of losing orders; it is actually the failure of our private sector’s capacity to grow,” he said, adding, “Without labour and environmental compliance, the manufacturing sector cannot compete globally.” He added that LDC graduation could offer export advantages for factories that meet compliance requirements. Economist Dr Masrur Reaz said both the private sector and the government must work together to produce a roadmap for smooth LDC graduation while improving capacity and compliance. BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem called for easing regulations by increasing online verification and enhancing the capacity of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and customs before graduation. Bangladesh’s LDC graduation:  Call for stronger trade negotiation capacity   ERF President Daolat Akter Mala presided over the seminar, while General Secretary Abul Kashem moderated the discussion. They urged businesses to focus on building the capacity of the manufacturing sector to improve export-handling efficiency and to engage in more detailed discussions on specific issues and roadmaps likely to be affected by LDC graduation.

Bangladesh’s leading entrepreneurs and trade bodies on Sunday called on the government to seek five to six years  more before officially being graduated from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status as they said adequate preparation is needed to tackle post-graduation challenges. “Our entrepreneurs and business chambers strongly support graduation. However, we stress the need for a 5-6 years’ extension. This will allow both the government and private sector to prepare properly avoiding potential problems,” said ICC Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman. He made the remarks at a press briefing titled ‘LDC Graduation: Challenges Ahead’, organised by ICC Bangladesh in collaboration with major national trade organisations at a city hotel. He emphasised the importance of diversifying Bangladesh’s export basket, developing human capital for Industry 4.0, attracting quality foreign direct investment (FDI) and building resilience in a volatile global economy. Business leaders urge six-year extension for Bangladesh’s LDC graduation “Successful graduation requires smart trade diplomacy to secure deals with the EU, the UK, Asean and Gulf countries to offset potential US tariff shocks. Reforms in financial governance, logistics, energy and technology-driven competitiveness are also essential,” he added. Highlighting economic concerns, Rahman pointed to external debt stress, declining FDI, global trade tensions, currency devaluation, energy shortages and post-July 2024 economic pressures. “The debate is not ‘if’ we graduate, but ‘how we graduate,” he said. He stressed that reforms, particularly in the financial and banking sectors, must be urgent but cannot happen overnight. Commerce Adviser cautions LDC graduation a 'Time Bomb’ BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan warned that the readymade garment sector, the biggest beneficiary of graduation, could suffer if the process is rushed. ICC Vice President Naser Ezaz Bijoy said ongoing global supply chain disruptions, political instability, and climate vulnerabilities reinforce the need for an extension. Bangladesh has already met the UN’s three criteria for graduation—Gross National Income, Human Assets Index and Economic Vulnerability Index—in two consecutive reviews, putting it on track for official graduation in November 2026. Rahman cited examples of countries like Maldives and Vanuatu, which delayed their graduation due to economic and political realities, saying a similar approach could benefit Bangladesh. Several top business leaders, including ICC Vice President A.K. Azad, DCCI Senior Vice President Razeev H Chowdhury, MCCI President Kamran T Rahman, FICCI Board Member Rubaba Dowla and BGMEA Vice Presidents, attended the briefing. The LDC graduation process, overseen by the United Nations Committee for Development Policy (UN-CDP), allows eligible countries to move out of the LDC category after meeting income, human asset, and economic vulnerability benchmarks. Graduating countries typically receive a three-year transition period to prepare for potential changes in trade access and concessional financing.  

Business leaders on Thursday called for extending Bangladesh’s graduation time from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category by six years, warning that moving ahead with the transition next year would be a ‘mistake’ which may harm the country’s private sector. Speaking at a seminar titled ‘LDC Graduation: Some Options for Bangladesh’ organised by the International Chamber of Commerce, Bangladesh (ICCB), they said the country is not yet prepared for the shift. In his opening remarks, ICCB President Mahbubur Rahman said Bangladesh still lacks preparations for LDC graduation for weak capacity in free trade negotiations, limited export diversification, shortage of skilled human resources in industries, insufficient foreign investment inflow, inadequate institutional capacity and the absence of climate resilience. Bangladesh moves toward LDC graduation amid concern over preparedness “Moving ahead without addressing these issues will only expose the economy to serious risks,” he warned. The ICCB president pointed out that the first blow of graduation would come from tariff hikes and losing Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) and other trade benefits could shrink exports by 6–14 percent. Sanya Reid Smith, Legal Adviser and Researcher at the Third World Network, presented the keynote paper, pointing out that several countries, despite being eligible, postponed their LDC graduation. Sanya said Angola withdrew from the process just a week before its scheduled graduation, while Myanmar, set to graduate in 2024, chose not to proceed. President of the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI) Abdul Muktadir said the pharmaceutical sector is already under pressure, with 30 percent of the top 100 companies struggling to survive. Without current patent exemptions, the prices of essential medicines would skyrocket after graduation — for example, the hepatitis B vaccine, now costing a few hundred taka, could rise to USD 1000, Sanya said. CA Prof Yunus seeks quick, coordinated actions for LDC graduation He alleged that the BAPI already holds a list of medicines likely to be affected, along with their expected post-graduation prices, yet has shown no interest in engaging with industry stakeholders. “The pharmaceutical industry now earns USD 3 billion annually from exports; with proper attention, this could be doubled,” he said. Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu said the country will graduate eventually, but not now, stressing the need for more preparation. “If we proceed without addressing the current crisis in the energy sector, the garment industry will face a collapse,” Babu warned. While reserves have grown and there are sufficient dollars to import LNG, Bangladesh lacks the capacity to import enough of it, he said. Deep-sea ports, essential for easing LNG imports, are still not ready, he added. Leather goods and footwear exporters echoed similar concerns. Syed Nasim Manzur, President of the Leather goods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB), described graduation before six years as ‘suicidal’ for the country. He urged the government to wait until 2032, citing growing competitiveness challenges in the global market and high shipping costs that neighbouring countries do not face. President of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) Taskeen Ahmed said 90 percent of the country’s exports come from pharmaceuticals, garments, and leather — sectors whose leaders are unanimously calling for a six-year delay. “If the government has a better proposal, it should discuss it with businesses,” he added. Supporting the call, Executive Director of the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM) Selim Raihan stressed the need for coordination among the government, bureaucrats, and businesses. He suggested Bangladesh also align with Nepal, which is scheduled to graduate next year. “Other than the banking sector, no significant reforms have taken place in the economy,” he said, adding that many recommendations from the White Paper Committee have been ignored. Without reforms, graduation could jeopardise free trade agreements and investment opportunities. Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Executive Director Fahmida Khatun said Bangladesh’s progress toward LDC graduation has been driven more by political considerations than economic readiness. She warned that an agenda of political success alone would not ensure positive outcomes without adequate preparation. Bangladesh is set to graduate from LDC status on November 24, 2026. Once it does, the country will lose tariff and patent-related privileges currently enjoyed as an LDC. Both business leaders and economists stressed the importance of completing necessary preparations before making the transition.  

UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis has said they stand ready to help deliver lasting reform, climate resilience, economic transformation, and gender equality, leaving no one behind as Bangladesh prepares for LDC graduation.  She said the past year was a challenging one but it also revealed the determination and dignity of the Bangladeshi people.  "I am proud of the partnership between Bangladesh and the UN: it remains grounded in shared values and aspirations,” Gwyn Lewis said. The government of Bangladesh and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) convened on Thursday for the biannual meeting of the Joint Steering Committee (JSC) to assess the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), launch the 2024 UN Country Results Report, and endorse strategic priorities for the year ahead. Reflecting on a year marked by political transition, major climate disasters and reform momentum, the JSC highlighted the UN’s adaptability in navigating through the transition, as well as its support in advancing key areas of governance reform, human rights, and institutional strengthening.  The UN delivered $215 million in development programming in 2024.  Will try to meet and collect opinions of all political parties of Bangladesh: Gwyn Lewis Among the many highlights of its work, the UN supported the development of the Smooth Transition Strategy for LDC graduation, created over 4,000 jobs in partnership with the private sector, helped 116 businesses to improve turnover, and facilitated digital skills training for over 11,000 young people.  UN-supported efforts enabled access to social protection services for 40 million people, with 580,000 children benefitting from protection programmes.  Across Bangladesh, 5.6 million adolescent girls were vaccinated against the Human Papilloma Virus to protect against cervical cancer, covering 93% of girls aged 10-14 in the divisions targeted.  In a year marked by climate disasters, the UN coordinated $44 million of assistance for flood and cyclone response and provided humanitarian aid to 1.72 million disaster-affected people, as well as facilitating climate risk awareness for 2 million Bangladeshis.  Through its governance and gender work, the UN enabled Village Courts to serve 66% of rural unions reaching 61 million people, supported the Sexual Harassment Prevention and Protection Bill and advocated for the amendment of the Domestic Violence Act. The meeting, co-chaired by Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD), and Gwyn Lewis, UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, brought together senior representatives from line ministries and UN agencies.  With the government’s decision to extend the Eighth Five-Year Plan by one year, the JSC formally endorsed a corresponding one-year extension of the UNSDCF (2022–2026) to maintain alignment with national development planning. A special session was dedicated to the Declaration on Future Generations and the UN’s work on youth engagement.  UNRC Gwyn Lewis calls for an end to violence, says it’s non-negotiable Participants discussed efforts to amplify the voices of young people and integrate intergenerational equity into national policy priorities as a follow-up to the 2024 Summit of the Future. Siddiky reaffirmed the government’s appreciation for the UN’s continued partnership and expressed optimism that the extended Cooperation Framework would provide a strong platform for deepening collaboration during the transition period and beyond.  “We welcome progress on climate financing platforms like the Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership, and continued UN and development partner support is needed,” said the Secretary of the Economic Relations Division.  “Youth employment, social enterprises, and impact funding must be prioritized to realize the Honourable Chief Adviser’s ‘three zeros’ vision. Urgent attention is also needed for water resource management, local governance, and responsive UN support ahead of upcoming reforms and elections,” said Siddiky. The JSC concluded with agreement on key next steps, including the launch of the final-year evaluation of the UNSDCF in late 2025 and a commitment to accelerate progress on SDG implementation and LDC graduation goals. UN to support Yunus-led interim government until national elections held: Gwyn Lewis The Cooperation Framework outlines UN support to Bangladesh in advancing the SDGs across five strategic priorities: Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Development, Equitable Human Development and Well Being, Sustainable, Healthy and Resilient Environment, Transformative, Participatory and Inclusive Governance and Gender Equality and Eliminating Gender-Based Violence. The next meeting of the JSC is scheduled for November/December 2025, said the UN office in Dhaka. 

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Tuesday said Bangladesh wants to enhance and further improve the relations with all the South Asian countries, including with India and Pakistan, while its foreign policy remains pro-Bangladesh. “Our foreign policy is a pro-Bangladesh one,” he told reporters while responding to a question regarding the visit of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar later this month. Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Dr Anisuzzaman Chowdhury and Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder were also present at the briefing on LDC graduation at the Foreign Service Academy. Referring to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus’ repeated calls for the revival of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) as a top platform for regional cooperation in South Asia during his conversations at home and abroad, Alam said Bangladesh wants improved relations with the Saarc countries.   “He (Dr Yunus) is seeking improved relations with all in the South Asian family. Pakistan is also part of the South Asian family. We want improved relations with India, Bhutan and Nepal, too,” said the Press Secretary.  He said the interim government has taken a decision to set up an economic zone for Nepal and is looking for land in the North Bengal area which is part of efforts to have improved relations with the South Asia family. Graduation: Bangladesh remains confident; Dr Yunus orders precautionary measures Alam said the Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan is coming and there will be discussions on all issues of mutual interest. Before Ishaq Dar’s visit, its Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch will visit Dhaka on Wednesday to hold talks with her Bangladesh counterpart Md Jashim Uddin. Ishaq Dar’s upcoming trip to Dhaka will mark the first visit by a Pakistani Foreign Minister since 2012. On Sunday, National Security Adviser and Chief Adviser’s High Representative on the Rohingya issue and priority matters Dr Khalilur Rahman said Bangladesh’s foreign policy is now entirely its own, no longer reliant on any other country to shape it. "We are no longer reliant on any country to shape it. This marks a clear reflection of our strategic autonomy," he said while speaking at a seminar. Earlier, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain confirmed that Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will pay an official visit this month. Asked about the issues to be discussed during the visit, Hossain said they will discuss all aspects of the relations.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday directed the officials concerned to take necessary precautionary measures to keep Bangladesh's every sector unaffected and ensure maximum benefits as the country remains confident to smoothly graduate from the LDC status. "We have already taken the decision….we have to move at full speed," Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam quoted Dr Yunus as saying in a meeting with the experts that lasted for nearly two hours. The Chief Adviser at the high-powered experts committee’s meeting on LDC graduation also laid emphasis on constant monitoring by a dedicated team so that no turbulence is seen in this journey.  Briefing reporters at the Foreign Service Academy after the meeting, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Dr Anisuzzaman Chowdhury said they have discussed all the issues and listed the precautionary measures. "We must have the conference," he said, citing examples of how other relatively weaker countries successfully graduated. He said they are confident that there will be no problems but there will be precautionary measures. Chowdhury said they are working on having a separate strong trade negotiating body as there is no such trade agency.  With pro-Bangladesh foreign policy, Dhaka wants improved ties with S Asia family Responding to a question, he said they are continuing their economic diplomacy and in economic diplomacy all things cannot be shared, noting that there are always challenges and opportunities. Chowdhury said the graduation process should be seen positively instead of thinking of stepping back. Chief of the high-powered experts committee Chowdhury made a presentation at the meeting followed by two hours of very intensive discussion, said the Press Secretary. Prof Yunus mentioned that Bangladesh would be a manufacturing and economic hub in the region, and discussed how it could be made this hub in a better way after the graduation from LDC status. Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud, Foreign Affairs Md Touhid Hossain, Commerce Secretary Sk Bashir Uddin, Education Adviser CR Abrar, Environment, Forests and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, Special Envoy on International Affairs to the Chief Adviser Lutfey Siddiqi, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun and Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur were, among others, present at the meeting, he said. Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder was also present at the media briefing. Bangladesh is scheduled to graduate from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category to a developing nation in November 2026. After the graduation, Bangladesh will become ineligible for almost all trade benefits, such as zero duty access, and strictly abide by the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs). Bangladesh will, however, continue to enjoy duty-free market access for three more years after its graduation to a developing nation in 2026. The extension was endorsed by 166 members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at its Ministerial Conference held in Abu Dhabi a year ago.