The government is preparing to submit a three-year reform roadmap to the United Nations as part of its effort to secure a postponement of Bangladesh’s graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category until November 2029, despite a UN committee recommending a shorter extension.

A high-level meeting chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on 3 June finalised a draft 25-point action plan, which will be forwarded to the UN Committee for Development Policy (CDP) after the national budget is announced. Officials said the reforms were earlier presented in a virtual meeting with the CDP on 29 April and are scheduled for implementation between 2026 and November 2029.

The government’s approach focuses on demonstrating measurable progress through a proposed monitoring mechanism led by the finance minister, which will review implementation on a monthly basis. A formal communication outlining commitments and the implementation framework is expected to be sent to the CDP within the next two weeks.

The draft “Action Plan for Bangladesh’s Preparation for LDC Graduation (2026–2029)” outlines wide-ranging reforms covering macroeconomic stability, financial sector governance, fiscal management, deregulation, export diversification, and institutional strengthening.

Key measures include efforts to stabilise the macroeconomy from mid-2027, improved coordination between monetary and fiscal policy, and steps to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities. The plan also addresses debt vulnerabilities identified by international financial institutions.

In the financial sector, the government aims to strengthen Bangladesh Bank’s supervisory role and restore discipline by 2027, alongside annual assessments of commercial banks covering asset quality, capital adequacy, liquidity, and governance.

Governance reforms include expanding digital public services to reduce direct administrative interactions and strengthen transparency and accountability. Tax reforms and deregulation efforts feature prominently, including a unified digital licensing platform, faster approvals, and longer validity periods for permits.

The roadmap also targets export diversification, with incentives for sectors such as pharmaceuticals, ICT, leather, agro-processing, jute, and light engineering. Logistics costs are expected to be reduced significantly through infrastructure upgrades, port modernisation, and improved connectivity by 2029.

Energy and green transition plans include expanded renewable energy investment, carbon market development, and green financing initiatives. The government is also seeking to secure preferential trade access in the European Union after graduation and explore free trade agreements with several countries.

Officials said the CDP recommendation will next be considered by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in July before moving to the UN General Assembly for a final decision. Bangladesh, which has already met the formal criteria for graduation, is seeking additional preparation time to manage transition challenges.

Experts say the extension, if approved, would depend on visible progress in implementing reforms and coordination with international development partners. They also noted that the final extension period is likely to be shorter than the three years requested.