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Friday | August 07, 2026 | Dhaka

Bangladesh, UNDP pledge closer ties ahead of LDC graduation

 Diplomatic Correspondent
 Published: 12:01 AM, 07 August 2026

Bangladesh and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation on the country’s development priorities, with a particular focus on ensuring a smooth transition as Bangladesh prepares to graduate from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category.

The commitment was reiterated on Thursday when Stephen Rodriques, the newly appointed UNDP Resident Representative to Bangladesh, presented his credentials to Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Welcoming the new UNDP chief, the Foreign Minister congratulated Rodriques on his appointment and reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to working closely with UNDP in advancing shared development goals.

Dr. Rahman highly appreciated UNDP’s longstanding contribution to Bangladesh’s development, saying the organisation had played a significant role in supporting the country’s progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Referring to Bangladesh’s preparations for LDC graduation, he expressed hope that UNDP and the wider United Nations system would continue to support the country in addressing the emerging challenges associated with the transition period leading up to graduation.

Rodriques thanked the Foreign Minister for the warm welcome and reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to deepening its partnership with the Government of Bangladesh. He praised the country’s remarkable socio-economic achievements and its leadership in promoting sustainable development.

The UNDP Resident Representative also congratulated Dr. Rahman on his election as President of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, describing the achievement as a reflection of Bangladesh’s growing international standing and its constructive role in the global community.

The meeting underscored the shared commitment of Bangladesh and UNDP to further expanding their development partnership and working together to advance sustainable and inclusive growth.