Staff Reporter :
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Sunday emphasised the need for urgent and coordinated action among all relevant institutions to ensure Bangladesh’s smooth and timely graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status.
Speaking at a high-level meeting with the LDC Graduation Committee at the State Guest House Jamuna, Professor Yunus reviewed progress on critical milestones and outlined next steps.
“This entire process hinges on coordination,” he said. “We already have the attention and support of investors, funders, and development partners. It is now imperative to build on the foundations laid and intensify our joint efforts with urgency and strategic direction.”
Professor Yunus underscored the importance of institutional readiness and unity among stakeholders. “We need a team that functions like firefighters – swift, effective, and relentless in solving problems until they are resolved,” he remarked.
He further assured that the Chief Adviser’s Office (CAO) would take an active role in guiding and monitoring the entire graduation process. “The highest level of government will oversee the implementation of all graduation-related activities,” he affirmed.
During the session, the LDC Graduation Committee presented five priority actions requiring immediate intervention.
These are full operationalisation of the National Single Window system, involving all relevant agencies, implementation of the National Tariff Policy 2023, with a clear and time-bound action plan, execution of key interventions under the National Logistics Policy 2024, including major infrastructure initiatives, ensuring the operational readiness of the Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) at Savar Tannery Village and commencement of full-scale operations at the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Park in Gajaria, Munshiganj.
“These are not routine undertakings,” Professor Yunus concluded. “Each represents a strategic step forward – essential for clearing the path to graduation and for building a more resilient and inclusive economy.”
Among those in attendance were Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Dr Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, Special Envoy for International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi, as well as members of the LDC Graduation Committee and senior policy advisers.
