Press Release: “CGS Hosts Roundtable Discussion on Bangladesh’s Post-LDC Transition: Priorities and Strategies”

[Thursday, 18December 2025, Dhaka] The Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) today organized a high level roundtable titled “Strengthening Bangladesh’s Institutional Capacity for a Smooth LDC Graduation: Priorities, Sequencing, and Strategies to Avoid the Middle-Income Trap,”at a hotel in Dhaka. The discussion brought together development partners, diplomatic missions, economists, private sector representatives and sectoral experts to identify practical and coordinated measures to safeguard competitiveness and strengthen long-term resilience.This roundtable aims to foster a focused policy conversation on how international cooperation particularly from foreign missions and development agencies can support Bangladesh in addressing institutional gaps, realigning assistance frameworks, and building long-term resilience in the post-graduation landscape.

Speakers included: Dr. Selim Raihan, Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka andExecutive Director, South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM); Syed Nasim Manzur, Industrialist, Managing Director, Apex Footwear Limited; Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Mohammed Parvez Imdad, Consultant & Policy Advisor; Nazmus Sadat Khan, Senior Economist, World Bank; Anowarul Haq, Assistant Resident Representative, Democratic Governance Portfolio, UNDP; Mr. Barun Kumar Dey, Senior Economic Officer, ADB; Michael Kim McQuay, Chief Strategy and Legal Advisor, The Asia Foundation; Mr. Kazi Faisal Bin Seraj, Country Representative, The Asia Foundation; Ms. Baiba Zarina, The Deputy Head of Mission, Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh; Zillur Rahman, President, Centre for Governance Studies andParvez Karim Abbasi, Executive Director, Centre for Governance Studieswho also moderated the discussion.

Participants explored key priorities for aligning external support with national strategies, focusing on competitiveness, industrial upgrading, and export diversification. The discussion also identified sectors that would require continued development cooperation after LDC-specific benefits are phased out and explored how development partners can better coordinate with government agencies to maximize impact.

Private sector representatives highlighted the need for targeted reforms and support to strengthen capacity for sustainable growth post-LDC graduation. Foreign development partners and diplomatic missions shared plans to adjust cooperation frameworks, financial assistance strategies, and advocacy initiatives, addressing challenges such as the loss of trade preferences and higher financing costs.

The session included facilitated exchanges, short interventions, and open discussion, where participants shared concluding observations, identified priority action points, and explored partnership opportunities. Discussions underscored the importance of stronger institutional coordination, clearer reform sequencing, and alignment between national priorities and external support mechanisms.

The roundtable concluded with closing remarks summarizing key insights and providing recommendations, including the preparation of a policy brief based on the discussion. The event forms part of CGS’s broader effort to provide evidence-based analysis and policy dialogue in support of Bangladesh’s smooth and sustainable LDC graduation.

About Centre for Governance Studies-

CGS is a think tank based in Bangladesh conducting research and media studies on issues of Good Governance, Corruption, Human Rights, Democracy, and Development. The Centre was established to address the challenges for Bangladesh in coping with the rapidly changing national and global scenarios. The Centre aims at facilitating collaborative efforts among the academic community, government, private sector, civil society and development partners to improve the quality of governance, address the security needs of Bangladesh, foster the conditions for efficient and prudent utilization of available resources towards poverty reduction, human resource development, and stabilization of political and social order through increased democratization, participation and sustainable economic development.

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Sanjoy Debnath
Public Relations Coordinator
Centre for Governance Studies
E-mail: [email protected]
Contact No: +880171790853
https://cgs-bd.com