United Nations General Assembly has extended Bangladesh’s preparatory period for graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category by three years, setting the new deadline at 24 November 2029. Nepal has received the same extension.
The decision, adopted at the UN General Assembly’s 81st session in New York, recognises Bangladesh’s recent political transition, economic vulnerabilities, and external challenges, including global trade uncertainty and supply-chain disruptions. Uruguay proposed the extension on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
Bangladesh originally qualified for LDC graduation in the 2018 and 2021 reviews, with graduation scheduled for 24 November 2026. The additional time is intended to help the country strengthen its economic resilience and prepare for reduced LDC-related trade preferences.
The UN resolution calls on Bangladesh to accelerate structural reforms, implement its National Smooth Transition Strategy, and regularly report progress to the UN Committee for Development Policy.
Key Priorities
- Controlling inflation
- Increasing tax revenue
- Reforming the banking sector
- Improving foreign-exchange stability
- Diversifying exports beyond ready-made garments
- Strengthening productivity, skills, energy security, and industrial competitiveness will also be essential.
The extension does not guarantee the continuation of existing trade preferences in all markets. Their duration and conditions will depend on individual trading partners’ policies. Bangladesh must therefore pursue trade agreements, prepare for changing tariff and rules-of-origin requirements, and improve export competitiveness.
The three-year extension offers valuable preparation time, but its success will depend on concrete reforms, effective implementation, and stronger economic competitiveness before November 2029.
