Published : 11 May 2025, 04:34 PM
Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has called for urgent and coordinated action from all agencies involved with ensuring Bangladesh's smooth and timely graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) bracket.
He made the call during a high-level meeting with the LDC Graduation Committee at the State Guest House Jamuna, where progress on key deliverables was reviewed, the state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha reported on Sunday.
"This whole thing is about coordination," Yunus was quoted as saying.
"We already have the attention and support of investors, funders, and development partners. Now, we must build on the efforts already under way and intensify our collective action to move forward with speed and purpose," he said.
Emphasising the importance of institutional readiness, Yunus called upon all stakeholders to move in unison.
"We need a team that functions like firefighters. When the whistle blows, they must respond fast, efficiently, and without delay and stay at the problem until it is solved," he said.
Yunus assured that the Chief Advisor's Office (CAO) will play an active role in overseeing the process.
"The highest office of the government will personally monitor the implementation of all graduation-related initiatives," he added.
During the meeting, the LDC Graduation Committee identified five priority actions that must be completed on an urgent basis.
The actions are:
>> Full operationalisation of the National Single Window with participation from all relevant agencies
>> Implementation of the National Tariff Policy, 2023 through a clear action plan
>> Execution of key measures under the National Logistics Policy, 2024, including infrastructure projects
>> Operational readiness of the Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) at Savar Tannery Village
>> Full-scale operation of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Park in Gajaria, Munshiganj.
"These aren't just routine tasks, we need to see them as key steps, each one helps clear the way for our graduation and builds a stronger, fairer economy for everyone", Yunus added.