Shibbir Ahmed, United Nation, New York — The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has officially recommended that the UN General Assembly make the final decision regarding the request by Bangladesh and Nepal to extend their preparatory period for graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category by three years.The decision was adopted by consensus during an ECOSOC meeting.Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN, introduced the draft decision on behalf of both nations.

In his address, Chowdhury outlined the core rationale behind the extension requests, emphasizing that both countries need extra time to safeguard their economic transitions against ongoing global vulnerabilities.The Council's recommendation follows extensive assessments conducted by the Committee for Development Policy (CDP). The CDP concluded that it would be highly appropriate for the broader General Assembly to review and finalize extensions for both South Asian nations.Under the current timeline, both Bangladesh and Nepal are scheduled to officially graduate from LDC status on November 24, 2026.

ECOSOC has explicitly urged the General Assembly to render its final, binding decision before this looming November deadline.Following the consensus vote, Ambassador Chowdhury reaffirmed Bangladesh’s long-term commitment to a smooth, sustainable graduation. He reiterated that if the General Assembly approves the deferral, Bangladesh will actively implement necessary policy reforms to strengthen its structural readiness and economic resilience.