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She also expressed her country’s interest in sharing expertise on trade negotiations with Bangladesh.

Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi said Bangladesh’s export basket is very narrow and negotiators will face many difficulties with different countries.

Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme Stefan Liller and Additional Commerce Secretary Md Abdur Rahim Khan also spoke at the event.

Bangladesh has already met the criteria for graduation in all three categories: per capita income, human asset index, and economic vulnerability index.

Even so, leading business figures have urged the government to seek a six-year deferral of LDC graduation, warning the economy is unprepared for the loss of vital trade preferences.

Citing domestic and international pressures—nearly 40 percent currency devaluation, high interest rates, and a fraught investment climate—they petitioned to delay the transition from November 2026 to 2032.

Their main concern is the loss of duty-free, quota-free access to the European Union, which they estimate could cut annual exports by up to 14 percent, or $7 billion, crippling readymade garments and footwear that make up almost 90 percent of exports.

Experts stress Bangladesh must negotiate trade deals to preserve market access after graduation.

Without talks, the country faces higher tariffs in the EU, UK, and other destinations.

Starting negotiations early will allow time to build consensus, align domestic policies with global standards, diversify export destinations, and reduce overreliance on a few markets.

Most importantly, timely deals will ensure a smoother transition and protect jobs and growth driven by exports.