UN asks Bangladesh about LDC graduation progress

The United Nations Committee for Development Policy (UN CDP), which reviews the least developed country (LDC) category, has invited Bangladesh to report on the progress of its preparation for graduation from LDC.

José Antonio Ocampo, chair of the UN CDP, sent a letter on August 25 to the Economic Relations Division of the Ministry of Finance. Similar letters have been sent to other graduating LDCs, requesting them for submitting annual reports on the preparation and implementation of the Smooth Transition Strategies (STSs) by October this year.

The CDP seeks updates at a time when businesses have been demanding that the interim government take the initiative to defer Bangladesh's LDC graduation by up to six years.

The country is scheduled to graduate to developing country category in November next year, along with Nepal and Lao People's Democratic Republic (known as Laos).

Businesses said this is not the right time, as the economy faces several challenges, including an economic slowdown, a crisis in the financial sector, and inadequate preparation to compete in the global market after graduation.

Officials here said CDP's letter is routine exercise and it monitors the progress of countries graduated and graduating from the list of LDCs under the Enhanced Monitoring Mechanism (EMM).

However, in an interview with The Daily Star early this month, Debapriaya Bhattacharya, a member of UN CDP, said, "How Bangladesh presents its case in that report (to CDP) will influence any subsequent request for deferment."

"The EMM assesses not only the three main criteria but also a wide range of Supplementary Graduation Indicators (SGI)."

A consultation between the CDP and Bangladesh may take place on November 25, 2025, where the country's EMM report will be discussed, said Bhattacharya, also distinguished fellow of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).

The CDP will review these reports at its February 2026 plenary, according to the interview.

In its letter, CDP Chair Ocampo said the UN General Assembly has called upon the CDP to continue consultations with graduating and recently graduated LDCs while monitoring their progress.

"In this context, representatives of the government have been invited to a virtual consultation meeting with the CDP, scheduled to be held between October and December 2025," said the letter.