Proposal forwarded to UN body for consideration

A proposal seeking an additional three-year transition period for Bangladesh's graduation from the category of Least-Developed Countries (LDCs), following a letter from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, has been forwarded to the UN Committee for Development Policy (CDP) for consideration.
A letter sent to the government by Rabab Fatima, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), revealed the development.
Fatima said she remained fully committed to working closely with the government, the UN Country Team, and development partners to ensure a smooth and sustainable graduation process for Bangladesh, according to the letter.

She conveyed the assurance in a communication sent last week to Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, minister of finance and planning.
Copies of the letter were also sent to Khalilur Rahman, minister of foreign affairs, Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, minister of commerce, Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki, state minister for planning, and other relevant government offices, according to sources.
"I also wish to inform you that the United Nations Secretary-General has received the letter from the Honourable Prime Minister of Bangladesh requesting a three-year extension of the preparatory period under the crisis response process of the enhanced monitoring mechanism," the letter stated.
"In line with his guidance, I am undertaking the necessary follow-up with the Committee for Development Policy," Rabab Fatima added.
She further apprised the Secretary-General of the key findings of the Graduation Readiness Assessment, as well as the outcomes of consultations held in Dhaka, the letter added.
Expressing appreciation, Rabab Fatima acknowledged the valuable support provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Country Team in Bangladesh in the preparation and successful conduct of the meeting.
Earlier on April 5, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman wrote a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres seeking to defer Bangladesh's graduation by at least three years to ensure a sustainable transition amid internal and external shocks.
The request comes as Bangladesh grapples with a "preparatory period" that officials say was effectively derailed by a "polycrisis" of global and domestic shocks.
Tarique noted that while Bangladesh met the three eligibility criteria - per capita income, Human Assets Index and Economic Vulnerability Index - the five-year preparatory window was largely consumed by crisis management.
The letter to the finance minister was sent from the UN headquarters on April 14, while it was transmitted from the Dhaka office on April 22.
Following the Prime Minister's request, the proposal had already been forwarded to the UN Committee for Development Policy (CDP), said officials from the Economic Relations Division (ERD) of the government.
A high-level meeting between the UN-CDP and the Government of Bangladesh was held on Wednesday to further expedite the initiatives under the proposal, sources said.
Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, minister of commerce, Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, finance and planning adviser to the prime minister, Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki, state minister for planning, and other relevant officials joined the virtual meeting from the NEC Auditorium in Dhaka.
Delegates from Bangladesh presented the latest status of key LDC graduation indicators, along with justifications for deferring graduation, to the CDP, according to sources.
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