Mymensingh: Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Dr. Anisuzzaman Chowdhury emphasized the necessity for Bangladesh to achieve economic self-reliance to ensure a sustainable graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Dr. Anisuzzaman made this statement at the “Local Level Stakeholders Consultation on Inclusive, Smooth and Sustainable LDC Graduation” event held in Mymensingh. The Support to Sustainable Graduation Project (SSGP) of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) organized the event, in collaboration with the Mymensingh district administration.
Divisional Commissioner of Mymensingh, Md. Mokhtar Ahmed, attended the event as a special guest, while Deputy Commissioner of Mymensingh, Mofidul Alam, chaired the workshop. Dr. Anisuzzaman highlighted the importance of national unity and solidarity to bolster economic progress.
Md. Mokhtar Ahmed acknowledged the private sector’s development in overcoming various challenges and expressed optimism about B
angladesh’s ability to tackle LDC graduation-related challenges using its developed capacity and confidence.
Mofidul Alam, chair of the event, stressed the importance of technological upgrades, quality control, branding, and supply chain integration, particularly in agriculture and other industries in Mymensingh. Additional Secretary of ERD and SSGP Project Director A. H. M. Jahangir, in his welcome remarks, emphasized educating local private sector representatives, particularly those in export-oriented industries, on the opportunities arising from the country’s LDC graduation.
Former Additional Secretary Dr. Md. Rezaul Bashar Siddique provided an overview of the LDC Graduation process and its implications, while Dr. Mostafa Abid Khan presented strategies for a smooth and sustainable graduation and the role of local stakeholders.
Other panelists, including SSGP’s Nesar Ahmed, Professor Dr. Maleka Bilkis, Reza Md. Golam Masum Prodhan, Shaiful Islam, and AKM Mahbubul Alam, echoed the need for infrastructure
improvements and diversification of export markets.
Speakers also highlighted the latent potential of agriculture in Mymensingh, advocating for fair prices for farmers, equitable preservation techniques, training schemes, and integration into the agricultural value chain. Bangladesh met the criteria for LDC graduation during the United Nations’ triennial reviews in 2018 and 2021 and is set to leave the LDC list by 2026 after a preparatory period. The Government of Bangladesh prioritizes a smooth transition, having formulated a Smooth Transition Strategy (STS) in collaboration with stakeholders.
The ERD’s “Support to Sustainable Graduation Project (SSGP)” aims to assess the impacts of graduation, provide capacity-building support, and promote the achievement through research and publications. As part of this effort, ERD and SSGP are organizing local workshops to inform grassroots stakeholders about the graduation process and opportunities, seeking their involvement in ensuring a smooth transition.
Officials
from ERD, SSGP, the district administration, and representatives from the private sector and civil society participated in the workshop.