Bangladesh likely to be recommended for LDC graduation, PM to brief media Saturday

The Committee for Development Policy of the United Nations (UN CDP) is going to recommend taking Bangladesh out of the list of least-developed countries (LDCs).

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will address a press conference tomorrow to brief the media about the United Nations’ final recommendations on Bangladesh’s graduation from the LDC status.

“The prime minister will virtually join the press conference at the Prime Minister’s Office from her official Ganabhaban residence at 4pm on Saturday,” Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told BSS this afternoon.

The committee may come up with an announcement on Friday night after ending a five-day virtual meeting of the CDP that began on February 22, sources inside the government said.

The UN is going to make the recommendation evaluating the overall performance of the country over the last three years.

After being recommended by the CDP for the LDC graduation, it usually takes three years for the final recognition but Bangladesh will have to wait for five more years as it sought two additional years during the previous meeting of the CDP.

The three indicators that determine whether a country will be recommended for LDC graduation are per capita income, human resources, and climate and economic fragility. The UN CDP evaluates the three aspects every three consecutive years.

Achievement in any two of the three indicators for two consecutive terms is required to come out from the LDC list.

Bangladesh achieved certain standards on all three indicators in 2018, and now it is expecting to perform the same in 2021.