Staff Reporter :
Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed has expressed optimism that Bangladesh will successfully graduate from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category as scheduled in 2026.
Speaking at an event in Dhaka on Saturday, he acknowledged the challenges and ongoing debates surrounding the graduation but emphasised that the transition must take place next year as planned.
Bangladesh is set to graduate from the LDC bracket, designated by the United Nations Committee for Development Policy, on 24 November 2026. The Chief Advisor has recently directed all relevant government agencies to undertake prompt and coordinated measures to facilitate the country’s transition to the developing nations category.
Bangladesh has been on the UN’s list of LDCs since 1975 and met the eligibility criteria for graduation in 2018. The assessment was based on three indicators: per capita income, human asset development, and economic vulnerability.
The UN General Assembly formally recommended Bangladesh’s graduation during its 76th session on 25 November 2021.
As an LDC, Bangladesh currently benefits from duty-free and quota-free access to European export markets. Upon graduation, these preferential trade benefits are expected to be withdrawn, posing potential challenges for the country’s export-oriented industries.
Salehuddin Ahmed urged the business community to play an active role in supporting the transition. “We must move forward swiftly, not slowly, as other countries have already made significant progress. Let us not remain stagnant,” he said.
He made these remarks while attending the launch of five new card services by Mercantile Bank, in partnership with Mastercard, held in the capital.
Highlighting the importance of digital transformation, Ahmed stated, “We are committed to promoting digital transactions to ensure greater transparency and traceability.”
However, he also noted that despite growing digital adoption, many individuals face hurdles-such as excessive scrutiny from banks-that discourage wider participation.
