The United Nations Committee for Development Policy (CDP) has expressed a positive stance on Bangladesh’s proposal to extend its preparation period for graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category until November 24, 2029. CDP Chair Professor José Antonio Ocampo informed the Bangladesh government that the committee considers the extension appropriate, according to a press release from the Ministry of Finance issued on Tuesday.

The CDP emphasized that the additional time should be used to address structural challenges and implement necessary policy reforms, not to delay them. Bangladesh formally requested the three-year extension on February 18, 2026, followed by a letter from the Prime Minister to the UN Secretary-General on April 6 seeking support. The committee noted that Bangladesh has exceeded all three LDC graduation criteria by a significant margin and is unlikely to regress in the near or medium term. However, it also cited global economic and geopolitical uncertainties, including Middle East tensions and energy market volatility, as potential risks.

The CDP welcomed Bangladesh’s commitment to its Smooth Transition Strategy and stressed the importance of continued international cooperation, including concessional financing, technical assistance, and trade capacity building, during and after the transition period.