Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir has called for enhanced global assistance to guarantee Bangladesh’s smooth, sustainable, and stable departure from the Least Developed Country classification, while formally requesting a three-year extension to the nation's preparatory timeline.

During distinct bilateral discussions held with the leadership of the United Nations Economic and Social Council at the UN Headquarters, the commerce minister detailed the underlying justification for this extension request to ECOSOC President and Nepalese Permanent Representative Ambassador Lok Bahadur Thapa, as well as ECOSOC Vice-President and Algerian Permanent Representative Ambassador Amar Bendjama.

According to an official ministry statement, Muktadir explained that Bangladesh was prevented from fully leveraging its initial preparatory timeframe due to a combination of internal economic and political transitions, volatile global financial markets, the ongoing energy crisis, disrupted international supply networks, the multi-layered fallout of climate change, and various other external headwinds.

The minister emphasized Dhaka's unwavering dedication to eventually exiting the LDC bracket, clarifying that the appeal for extra time is by no means an attempt to postpone graduation indefinitely, but rather a strategic measure to ensure the final transition remains highly resilient and sustainable.

He further noted that the requested three-year window would allow the government to finalize crucial structural reforms, enhance institutional governance, restore overarching macroeconomic stability, fortify the domestic banking and financial sectors, cultivate a highly attractive environment for foreign investment, modernize public infrastructure, and efficiently execute a comprehensive Smooth Transition Strategy.

The high-level Bangladeshi delegation participating in these global dialogues featured the Prime Minister's Adviser on Finance and Planning Dr. Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Planning Zonaed Abdur Rahim Saki, Economic Relations Division Secretary Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, and Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury.

The business community was also represented by Syed Nasim Manzur, President of the Leather Goods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh, alongside Mahmud Hasan Khan, President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.

In response, both the ECOSOC President and Vice-President acknowledged the severe international hurdles currently confronting developing economies on their path to LDC graduation, reaffirming their shared commitment to collaborating closely with Bangladesh to facilitate a secure, successful, and enduring transition.