The European Union (EU), the Group of 77 (G77) and China have reaffirmed their support for Bangladesh’s efforts to ensure a smooth, sustainable and irreversible graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category.
The assurance came during separate meetings at the United Nations Headquarters, where Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir met with EU Ambassador to the UN Stavros Lambrinidis and G77 Chair and Uruguay’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Laura Dupuy Lasserre.
During the discussions, the commerce minister outlined Bangladesh’s request for a three-year extension of the LDC graduation preparatory period, citing ongoing economic and political transition, global economic uncertainties, energy challenges, and the need to complete key structural reforms.
He said the additional time would help strengthen industrial competitiveness, address infrastructure constraints, and ensure a sustainable and irreversible graduation.
The EU welcomed Bangladesh’s commitment to good governance and sustainable development, while also expressing support for the launch of negotiations on a Bangladesh-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The G77 also endorsed Bangladesh’s reform agenda and proposed a dedicated briefing for its member states on the country’s graduation strategy.
The Bangladesh delegation included State Minister for Planning Zonayed Saki, ERD Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan, and LFMEAB President Syed Nasim Manzur.
