US, India Oppose Bangladesh’s Bid to Delay LDC Exit

Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman has said that the government is seeking a three-year extension of Bangladesh’s graduation from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) list.

He cautioned, however, that the chances of success are slim, as key partners—including the United States, India, Japan, and Turkey—are opposing the move.

Speaking at a workshop on US reciprocal tariffs and LDC graduation, organised by RAPID at the CIRDAP auditorium on Tuesday, Rahman explained that any postponement must be approved by the UN General Assembly. “If our friendly countries oppose it, how can we expect the proposal to be approved?” he asked.

Bangladesh is scheduled to graduate from LDC status on 24 November 2026. Local businesses have urged a delay of five to six years, citing a lack of preparedness. The government is instead pursuing a three-year extension while seeking technical assistance from development partners.

Rahman noted that the objective is to secure extended trade benefits. “We will make every possible effort,” he said. “Although the chances are limited, the situation is not entirely hopeless.”

At the event, RAPID Chairman MA Razzaque presented research showing Bangladesh’s exports to the US could fall by 14 per cent in the next year due to reciprocal tariffs. Competing exporters are also expected to face sharp declines—China by 58 per cent, India by 48 per cent, Vietnam by 28 per cent, and Indonesia by 27 per cent.

Other speakers included RAPID Executive Director M Abu Yusuf and ERF President Daulat Akhtar.