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The government will begin lobbying foreign diplomats in Dhaka next month to build support for its request to defer Bangladesh's graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status by three years, as the issue moves towards consideration at the UNGA.
"We will sit with all the foreign missions in Bangladesh in the first week of July. We will explain Bangladesh's reasons for seeking an additional three years before graduating from LDC status," a senior Economic Relations Division (ERD) official said on Wednesday.
As Bangladesh's request for a deferral will ultimately require approval through the UN system and endorsement by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), securing broad international support is considered crucial, he added.
Officials said Bangladesh's fate regarding the proposed deferment is likely to be decided at the UNGA session in September this year.
Although Bangladesh is scheduled to graduate to developing-country status in November 2026, Dhaka has sought an additional three years to prepare for the transition amid a series of domestic and external challenges.
More than two months ago, Bangladesh formally requested the United Nations Committee for Development Policy (UNCDP), the body responsible for reviewing graduation criteria, to grant an extension in light of emerging economic and geopolitical pressures, including global shocks, energy supply constraints, domestic political transition and other external uncertainties.
The UNCDP has since responded to Bangladesh's request, outlining a number of conditions linked to the proposed deferment.
The committee emphasised the importance of domestic reforms, including measures to stabilise the financial sector, strengthen domestic resource mobilisation through higher tax revenues, and prioritise expenditures that enhance resilience and support economic transformation.
According to ERD officials, policy recommendations on LDC graduation are first considered by the executive bodies of the UN system, including the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), before being forwarded to the UN General Assembly for final approval.
"Almost all foreign missions in Bangladesh represent UN member states. Therefore, we need to clearly explain the rationale behind our request for a graduation deferment," another ERD official said.
He noted that while an ECOSOC meeting is scheduled soon, Bangladesh's request may not be discussed immediately and could instead be taken up at a later meeting, possibly in late July.
"Once the matter is discussed at ECOSOC, we will have a clearer idea about the timeline for consideration of the graduation deferment request," the official said.
He added that although greater clarity on the process is expected after the ECOSOC discussions, the final decision will rest with the UNGA.
Bangladesh is not alone in seeking additional time. Nepal, another country scheduled for graduation in 2026, has also requested a three-year deferment.
"Since Nepal has submitted a similar request, the UN may adopt a common approach for both countries," the official said.
In a letter sent to the ERD Secretary on June 1, the UNCDP gave what officials described as a positive response to Bangladesh's request, although it did not specify any timeframe for a possible extension.
The committee stated: "Without significantly advancing on such reforms, it is difficult to see how an extension of the preparatory period requested by Bangladesh would contribute to a more sustainable graduation and a smooth transition. Hence, the extension should not be viewed as a pause or justification for delaying reforms."
The committee further advised that any extension should serve as a catalyst for accelerating reforms and implementing smooth transition measures, particularly those aimed at strengthening productive capacities, promoting economic diversification and preparing the private sector for graduation.
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