Trade deals crucial for Bangladesh as LDC graduation nears: HSBC official

Trade deals that secure preferential market access will become increasingly important for Bangladesh as it prepares to graduate from least developed country (LDC) status amid a tougher global trade environment, said a senior HSBC official.

The comments came at an event titled, “Navigating Global Trade: Future-Proofing Bangladesh”, organised by HSBC in Dhaka on Tuesday.

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Shanella L Rajanayagam, senior trade economist at HSBC Global Research UK, outlined the immediate disruptions facing global trade and their implications for Bangladesh in a presentation at the event.

She noted that while global trade ended 2025 on a strong footing, risks ranging from shipping disruptions to uncertainty over US trade policy require close monitoring in the year ahead.

She also pointed to the longer-term challenges posed by Bangladesh’s graduation from LDC status.

“Global trade is facing disruption on multiple fronts, from shipping shocks to shifting US tariff policy and rising protectionism. With Bangladesh preparing to graduate from least developed country status against this tougher global backdrop, securing preferential market access through trade deals matters more than ever,” she said.

Md Mahbub ur Rahman, chief executive officer of HSBC Bangladesh, said new opportunities are emerging for Bangladesh as global trade patterns change.

“Powered by strong domestic demand, a dynamic young workforce, and rising trade volumes, Bangladeshi businesses are exceptionally positioned to navigate this transformation, move up the global value chain, and thrive on the world stage,” he said.

Aditya Gahlaut, managing director and regional head of Global Trade Solutions for Asia at HSBC, said a series of unsettling events in recent years has changed how companies view resilience.

"It is not just an operational ambition – it is a balance sheet decision, often requiring difficult trade-offs on capital and liquidity. Each one of these choices requires capital -- to commit, to hedge, to fund the transition, and to make the new operating model real," he said, adding that HSBC can support them all.

Ahmad Rabiul Hasan, country head of Global Trade Solutions at HSBC Bangladesh, said the bank would continue to support businesses as they adapt to the changing global trade landscape.