LDC graduation: Latest status of indexes sent to CDP

In order to evaluate the issue of Bangladesh's graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, the government has sent the latest status report on related indexes to Committee for Development Policy (CDP), a concern of United Nations Economic and Social Council.

Economic Relations Division (ERD) sent the status report to CDP through Economic Minister of Bangladesh's Permanent Mission to UN, Iqbal Abdullah Harun, said ERD officials.

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal had earlier informed CDP that the government had no objection to graduation from LDC status by 2024.

According to sources, the latest status of indexes related to LDC graduation was discussed during a virtual consultation meeting on data coverage, held with CDP on Sunday.

ERD officials who attended said another meeting with CDP would be held on Thursday evening to discuss related indexes.

Meanwhile, ERD wants to discuss the impact of LDC graduation on foreign assistance, investment, and overseas trade with private sector representatives. This was decided during a meeting of government's core committee on LDC graduation on Saturday.

A top government official who took part in the core committee meeting told The Business Standard, "An umbrella workshop will be organised with the large apex bodies of the private sector. The workshop will focus on the impact of LDC graduation on a range of private sectors. A summary of initiatives to facilitate international support measures after LDC graduation will also be presented during this proposed workshop.

"CDP had sent out a questionnaire, inquiring about the latest status of the country's indexes. Responses to this questionnaire have been prepared based on data/information collected from different ministries," he said, adding the reply has been sent to CDP via Bangladesh's Permanent Mission to UN.