B Mirror Report: The Government of Bangladesh has officially requested the United Nations to defer the country’s graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category, proposing a new timeline of 2029 instead of the previously scheduled 2026 transition.

According to government sources, the request has been made in light of growing global economic uncertainties, persistent structural challenges in attracting private investment, and concerns over maintaining export competitiveness during a fragile recovery period.

Officials argue that an immediate graduation could expose key sectors—particularly ready-made garments, small and medium enterprises, and export-dependent industries—to increased external pressures, including the loss of preferential trade benefits and development assistance.

The proposal has been submitted to the United Nations Committee for Development Policy, which is responsible for assessing LDC graduation criteria and making recommendations to the broader UN system.

The government maintains that additional transition time would allow for a more “sustainable and irreversible” graduation process, ensuring that economic resilience and institutional readiness are firmly established before moving out of the category.

The United Nations is expected to review Bangladesh’s request alongside updated economic indicators and vulnerability assessments in its upcoming evaluation cycle.