B Mirror Report:  Although the government has asked for a three-year delay in Bangladesh’s graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category, a high-level United Nations (UN) team is expected to visit Dhaka next month to give its findings on the country’s graduation preparedness evaluation.

According to an official UN communication, a delegation from the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) will visit Bangladesh from April 3 to April 7, 2026.

The mission will be led by UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative Rabab Fatima.

During the visit, a half-day high-level multi-stakeholder consultation will be held in Dhaka on April 5, where the UN delegation will present the results and conclusions of Bangladesh’s Graduation Readiness Assessment and discuss possible pathways for a smooth and sustainable transition from the LDC category.

The UN team has also sought bilateral meetings with several senior government leaders, including Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, sources said.

Officials concerned noted that these meetings are expected to create an opportunity to review the assessment findings in detail and discuss policy measures to ensure a stable transition after Bangladesh’s graduation from the LDC group.

The visit comes at a time when Bangladesh has formally requested the United Nations to defer its graduation timeline by three years, citing domestic and global economic uncertainties, trade vulnerabilities and structural challenges.

Bangladesh is currently set to graduate from the LDC category in 2026, a move that will gradually end several international trade benefits, including preferential market access and special support measures, according to a senior official of the commerce ministry.

However, economists and policymakers have warned that the loss of such privileges could pose challenges for key export sectors, particularly the readymade garment (RMG) industry, unless adequate preparation and international support are ensured.

Officials familiar with the process said the upcoming consultations will focus on evaluating Bangladesh’s economic and institutional readiness, identifying potential policy gaps and transition risks, and discussing possible international support mechanisms during the post-graduation period.

The UN office said the discussions in Dhaka will offer an important platform to review the readiness assessment and outline the future roadmap for Bangladesh’s graduation from the LDC category.