Adviser to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, on Saturday emphasized the need for Bangladesh’s agriculture sector to become more harmonised with global best practices, in order to effectively tackle the challenges of the country’s post-graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status.
He made the remarks while speaking at a workshop titled “Local Level Stakeholders Consultation on Inclusive, Smooth and Sustainable LDC Graduation”, held at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Munshiganj.
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The event was organized by the Support to Sustainable Graduation Project (SSGP) under the Economic Relations Division (ERD), in collaboration with the Munshiganj district administration.
“Good governance must be prioritized to prepare the country for the post-graduation era,” said Chowdhury, a son of Munshiganj who also oversees the Ministry of Agriculture.
Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, who also hails from the district, also attended the event and in his address noted that Munshiganj holds strong potential to become a significant hub for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Dr. Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Ministry of Finance, drew attention to the development trajectories of East and Southeast Asian nations and called for greater national unity and solidarity to achieve Bangladesh’s long-term development goals.
Speaking at the event, ERD Secretary Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky emphasized the critical role of the private sector, alongside the government, in navigating the transition from LDC status. He also proposed the establishment of a biotechnology village in Munshiganj, considering its potential.
Chairing the session, Munshiganj Deputy Commissioner Fatema Tul Jannat expressed hope that insights from the consultation would contribute meaningfully to national strategies related to LDC graduation.
Earlier, A. H. M. Jahangir, Additional Secretary of ERD and Project Director of SSGP, delivered the welcome remarks. He highlighted the importance of engaging local private sector stakeholders—particularly those in export-oriented industries—on the prospects and challenges of LDC graduation.
Speakers at the event underlined the vast potential for agro-processing and tourism industries in Munshiganj, calling for improvements in infrastructure, transportation, energy supply, and youth skills development to fully harness these opportunities.
Bangladesh met all three criteria for graduation from LDC status in the United Nations Committee for Development Policy’s (CDP) triennial reviews in 2018 and 2021. The country is on track to officially graduate from the LDC category by 2026, following a preparatory period of five years.
To ensure a smooth and sustainable transition, the government has formulated a Smooth Transition Strategy (STS) with input from various stakeholders. The SSGP is playing a key role in identifying the impacts of graduation, supporting capacity-building for ministries, and promoting public awareness through research and publications.
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As part of these efforts, ERD and SSGP are conducting local-level workshops to sensitize grassroots stakeholders about the LDC graduation process and engage them in shaping a sustainable post-graduation future.
The Munshiganj workshop brought together officials from ERD and SSGP, representatives of the district administration, private sector, and civil society organizations.