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The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has recommended that the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) take a final decision on Bangladesh’s request for a three-year extension of its preparatory period before graduating from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category.
The recommendation, adopted by consensus at an ECOSOC meeting on Tuesday, also covers Nepal, which has submitted a similar request, according to a press release issued by the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations on Wednesday.
Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, introduced the draft decision on behalf of Bangladesh and Nepal, explaining the rationale behind the requests for additional preparation time before graduation.
The recommendation follows assessments by the United Nations Committee for Development Policy (CDP), which concluded that it would be appropriate for the General Assembly to consider extending the preparatory period for both countries.
Under the ECOSOC decision, the General Assembly has been requested to take a final decision on the extension proposals before November 24, 2026, the date on which Bangladesh and Nepal are currently scheduled to graduate from the LDC category.
If approved by the General Assembly, Bangladesh’s graduation would be deferred by three years, allowing the country additional time to prepare for the transition and address challenges associated with losing LDC-specific international support measures.
Following the adoption of the decision, Ambassador Chowdhury reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to achieving a smooth, sustainable and irreversible graduation from the LDC category.
He said Bangladesh remains firmly committed to implementing the necessary policy reforms, strengthening institutional preparedness and enhancing its overall readiness for graduation if the General Assembly approves the requested deferral.
Bangladesh has sought the extension to ensure a more resilient transition amid evolving global economic challenges, including trade uncertainties, climate vulnerabilities and shifting international market conditions.
The final decision now rests with the UN General Assembly, which is expected to consider the recommendation ahead of the scheduled graduation date in November 2026.