LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRY (LDC)

Feb. 28, 2021

The United Nations Committee for Development Policy (CDP) has recommended graduation of Bangladesh from the category of Least Developed Country (LDC) as it fulfilled the eligibility criteria in terms of per capita income, human assets and economic and environmental vulnerability.

About:

  • This is the second consecutive time since 2018 that the CDP has made recommendation for Bangladesh for graduation from LDC category.

  • The CDP decides on the LDC status of a country based on three criteria-
    • per capita income,

    • human assets index and

    • economic vulnerability index.



  • A country must achieve at least two of the three criteria at two consecutive triennial reviews to be considered for graduation.

  • The proposal will be sent to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for endorsement in June to be finally approved by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in September this year.

  • Bangladesh will get time upto 2026 to prepare for the transition to the status of a developing country. Usually countries are given three years for transition but this year due to the Corona pandemic, Bangladesh has been given five years for the process.