Unless the government’s request for deferment is granted, Bangladesh is set to graduate from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category in November this year.

Bangladesh’s readiness for graduation from least developed country status in November this year has been undermined by domestic and international crises, a UN assessment warns, with the US-Israel war on Iran adding a new threat.

The report provides an in-depth analysis of the country’s preparedness to manage the transition

The government has been engaged in continuous “firefighting efforts” to stabilise the economy, he said

The figure represents nearly a third of the country’s $54.8 billion in total exports recorded in 2023

While Bangladesh offers the lowest wages ($115–$135 monthly) in the region, we suffer from the longest lead times—around 90-120 days on average—which is a major competitive disadvantage.

Revisiting the Smooth Transition Strategy now through clear timelines, preference transition, TRIPS and pharmaceutical preparedness, transition financing, and shock-responsive social protection would strengthen Bangladesh’s position.

Bangladesh today sought the European Union's (EU) support for deferring its graduation from the group of least developed countries (LDCs).

The recently signed Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) holds significant potential to boost Japanese investment in Bangladesh,

Bangladesh is on its way to graduate from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status. However, to become a prosperous nation, it must adopt new strategies for accelerated economic growth.

Our current image, built on resilience under difficult conditions, is admirable but insufficient for the next chapter.

The United Nations Committee for Development Policy (UN CDP) has discussed Bangladesh’s request to defer its graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category by three years during its latest plenary session.

In November last year, Bangladesh confirmed that it continued to meet all three LDC graduation criteria and remained on track for graduation in November 2026 despite economic shocks.

At 2am in a remote village in northern Bangladesh, a mother waits for a phone call from a hundi broker.

Bangladesh has met the criteria to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, but serious gaps in trade readiness, macroeconomic stability and institutional strength could threaten a smooth transition in November 2026, according to a new independent assessment commissioned by the United Nations (UN).

Dialogue at home and abroad will determine that

Amid Bangladesh’s fragmented preparation for LDC graduation, and at a time when unpredictable global geopolitical dynamics are reshaping competitiveness, some quietly consequential and rather rare good news has emerged from the United Kingdom.

The deal that changes the competitive landscape

The European Union and India reached a sweeping free trade deal granting Indian clothing manufacturers duty-free access to the bloc.

Bangladesh is not fully prepared to face the economic and institutional challenges that will follow its graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category later this year, business leaders and bankers said yesterday, warning that it could expose the economy to serious risks.