Staff Reporter :
The government is finalising the new import policy for 2026–2028 as part of its broader strategy to strengthen Bangladesh’s trade regime and promote greater economic self-reliance, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said on Wednesday.
At a press briefing held at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the Chief Adviser’s Office, said the meeting was informed that the new import policy will be announced soon.
Quoting the chief adviser, Shafiqul said, “We must not depend on others. We have to stand on our own feet and eliminate all forms of dependency. It must be clear that we no longer want to rely on others.”
He further quoted Prof Yunus as saying, “Whatever time we have, we must use it to become self-reliant. To achieve that, we must think creatively, work diligently, and persist despite challenges. There is joy in that struggle. A new Bangladesh means a self-reliant Bangladesh.”
The meeting also reviewed several issues related to economic and trade management, including visa complications, capacity building with the ADB and the World Bank, ICT incentives, gas supply, man-made fibre development, and non-performing loans (NPLs).
“The chief adviser pointed out that some visa-related complications still exist and directed the foreign minister to make extra efforts to resolve them,” Shafiqul said.
Citing the Bangladesh Bank governor, he added, “Our reserves now cover five months of imports, and inflation has fallen from 12.5 percent to 8.3 percent.”
The government has also set a goal to reduce the NPL rate from 24 percent to 5 percent, he said.
The meeting further assessed Bangladesh’s progress toward graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category.
“Today’s meeting was not meant for a final decision on graduation but focused on evaluating our readiness for a smooth transition,” Shafiqul explained.
“We have already shared our position in New York, and the assessment of our preparedness is now underway,” he added.
Concluding the briefing, Shafiqul said the chief adviser is determined to ensure a seamless transition before Bangladesh officially graduates from the LDC category in November 2026.
He also announced that Prof Yunus will attend the World Food Forum in Rome on 12 October, where he is scheduled to participate in several high-level meetings on the sidelines.
