[🇧🇩] LDC Graduation For Bangladesh

[Saif]

CA confirms scheduled LDC graduation

Professor Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser of the interim government, yesterday instructed his cabinet colleagues to prepare for Bangladesh’s status graduation from a least developed country (LDC) to a developing nation in November 2026, effectively doing away with all speculation.

www.thedailystar.net

CA confirms scheduled LDC graduation

Professor Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser of the interim government, yesterday instructed his cabinet colleagues to prepare for Bangladesh's status graduation from a least developed country (LDC) to a developing nation in November 2026, effectively doing away with all speculation.

Many, including a section of economists and businesspeople, were in favour of a deferment by a couple of years.

They reasoned that the economy needed time to cope with the severe fallout of the pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and high global inflationary pressure over the last few years. Even some cabinet members had spoken out on several occasions recently about their doubts.

Shafiqul Alam, the chief adviser's press secretary, yesterday said the interim government had decided to keep to the schedule for availing the United Nations status graduation.

"The government has taken into consideration opinions from experts on whether the process would impact industries and settled on going for it," he said at a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy.

If any detrimental impact is identified, preparations will be made to overcome it, he said.

Besides, he said, benefits provided to Bangladesh for being an LDC would prevail for three years past the graduation.

"I think we have the ability to show our global competitiveness," Alam added.

Replying to a question, the press secretary said the pharmaceutical industry would also face no disruption in availing intellectual property rights.

Bangladesh has met all three preconditions for graduation, thanks to its economic development since the country attained independence in 1971.

The country was listed in the LDC grouping in 1975 to avail different benefits, such as zero-tariff and quota access to different countries, as the economy was on the verge of collapse following the Liberation War.

Such benefits have enabled Bangladesh to currently stand out as the second-largest garment exporter after China.

Bangladesh will lose trade worth over $8 billion annually due to the withdrawal of post-LDC preferential trade benefits, for which the country would have to pay at least 12 percent duty on goods shipments.

Currently, 78 percent of the country's exports avail LDC benefits in 38 countries.

The European Union has already assured that it will continue the LDC trade benefits for Bangladesh for three more years, up to 2029, as a grace period meant to enable a smooth transition.

The UK, Canada, and Australia have given similar commitments, except for some conditions.

Moreover, the World Trade Organization has also decided to grant the same grace period following Bangladesh's appeal for 12 years.​

 

[Saif]

LDC graduation should proceed as planned: Touhid

Foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Monday emphasised that Bangladesh’s graduation from the Least Developed Countries category should proceed as scheduled in 2026, without seeking any deadline extension...

www.newagebd.net

LDC graduation should proceed as planned: Touhid
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka 17 March, 2025, 22:09

Md Touhid Hossain

Foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Monday emphasised that Bangladesh’s graduation from the Least Developed Countries category should proceed as scheduled in 2026, without seeking any deadline extension.

‘Neither the government nor the business community has adequately prepared for the transition, but we must move forward,’ he said while addressing a seminar at the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) auditorium in the capital.

The seminar titled ‘Importance and Prospects of Cotton Cultivation in Bangladesh for Saving Foreign Currency’ was jointly organized by Economic Reporters Forum, Bangladesh Cotton Association (BCA), Bangladesh Cotton Ginners Association (BCGA), and Bangladesh Sudan Cotton Ginning Industries (BSCGI) at ERF Auditorium in the capital.

Touhid pointed out that Bangladesh would have a three-year grace period until 2029 after its graduation, allowing the business community time to adapt.

He added that the European Union had already provided guidelines to the foreign ministry on securing GSP+ trade facilities post-graduation.

During the seminar, the foreign adviser announced the government’s plan to declare cotton as an agricultural product and implement measures within two months to boost domestic production.

He stressed the need for policy support to enhance local cotton cultivation, noting that substituting tobacco with cotton could benefit both farmers and the national economy.

Touhid also touched on the country’s cotton imports, mentioning that Bangladesh is exempt from US tariffs on cotton exports and hinted at the possibility of importing cotton from the United States.

Regarding Bangladeshi expatriates in Oman, the adviser said initiatives were underway to ease passport-related complications, with expectations that these measures would reduce complexities by half.

National Board of Revenue (NBR) Member Moazzem Hossain, Cotton Development Board Executive Director Dr. Fokre Alam Ibn Tabib, Bangladesh Cotton Ginners Association (BCGA) General Secretary Golam Saber, among other were present.​

 

[Saif]

LDC graduation in 2026

Now that the government has made it known that deferring the country's graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status is not in its thinking, businesses should get the message straight. For years, policymakers, businesses, and economists have deliberated on strategies to mitigate

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

LDC graduation in 2026
Wasi Ahmed
Published :
Mar 18, 2025 22:58
Updated :
Mar 18, 2025 22:58

Now that the government has made it known that deferring the country's graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status is not in its thinking, businesses should get the message straight. For years, policymakers, businesses, and economists have deliberated on strategies to mitigate post-graduation difficulties. The primary concern has always been the loss of trade benefits and economic preferences that LDC status provides. After all these years businesses in the country are still at unease about the competitive business landscape of the near future.

In a series of meetings held recently, businesses have asked for deferment of two to three years to be able to better adjust with the open-field competitive environment. This week the president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) urged upon the government to defer Bangladesh's graduation from least developed country (LDC) status for at least 2 to 3 years considering the prevailing global and local economic challenges. He made the observations at a Focus Group Discussion on "Implementation of the STS (Science and Technology Studies) for Smooth Transition from LDC Status" jointly organised by the Support to Sustainable Graduation Project (SSGP), Economic Relations Division (ERD) and DCCI. On a similar note, at a press briefing, the president of the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) asked the government to take steps for deferment of the scheduled graduation by at least three years.

LDC graduation, besides meeting the critical requirements in terms of clear economic indicators, means that a country set to graduate is believed to have overcome the structural handicaps that warrant special treatment from the international community. The UN classifies a country as an LDC if it has per capita income of little over $1,000 a year. A country with so low per capita is perceived as economically vulnerable and scores badly on a range of human indicators, including nutrition, child mortality and enrolment in schools.

Since the term LDC was coined five decades ago, only four countries have graduated so far: Botswana (1994), Cabo Verde (2007), the Maldives (2011) and Samoa (2014). For a country like Bangladesh 'branded' as an LDC since its inception -- although much of its growth and successes owe hugely to its being termed so -- graduation is indeed a winning post, a milestone in the country's long-term economic and social development. But there are challenges, some apparently daunting, that the country will have to take on squarely.

Now, what are the main challenges of graduation that have caused worry among the businesses? To start with, Bangladesh would face stiffer competition from rivals in international trade, especially in exporting, as graduation will cut deeply into the preferential benefits that the country currently enjoys from well over forty countries - the EU being the largest provider accounting for around 54 per cent of the country's exports. Upon graduation from the LDC league, Bangladesh is likely to lose about $2.7 billion in export earnings every year. This is because exports will be subjected to 6.7 per cent additional tariff as preferential duty benefits from different countries and trading partners will no longer be available.

At present, Bangladesh is a major user of duty-free and quota-free market access, with shipments under this facility accounting for 72 per cent of the total exports. Regional trade agreements and bilateral initiatives cover about 90 per cent of the total exports, and thus preferential market access is of special significance.

Furthermore, upon graduation, products made in Bangladesh will become more expensive to buyers and consumers in key export markets. In this context, it may be recalled that according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Bangladesh's exports may decline by 5.5 per cent to 7.5 per cent due to preference erosion and exports becoming costlier. No doubt, preference erosion in major exporting countries will thus have implications for export competitiveness and export earnings, and consequently, for GDP growth, employment generation and poverty alleviation.

Beyond trade, the country will also be hit when it comes to foreign aid. Concessionary financing from the International Development Association, the part of the World Bank that helps the world's poorest countries, and multilateral assistance with special benefits will also not be available upon graduation and attaining the middle-income status. The benefit of technical cooperation and other forms of assistance will also be affected. Concessional borrowing is another important area to be hit hard. As per the WB criteria, if a country's per capita income remains above $1,400 for three consecutive years, the rate of interest would surge to about 2.0 per cent from 0.75 per cent-a facility that Bangladesh currently enjoys like all other LDCs.

These difficulties were anticipated years ago, and think tanks such as the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) have long been urging the government and private sector to prepare for the transition. The government, too, has taken some steps to gradually reduce business incentives to help business sectors adjust to the post-LDC scenario.

Following its graduation, Bangladesh will not be left in the desert as there will be a transition phase which will allow the existing cushioning to continue for some time-three years or so.

The government's decision seems to be a step in the right direction, even though challenges are likely to be there after graduation. In a free-trade world, facing competition rather than remaining protected by trade preferences is in the best of interests of the country's trade and commerce as this will ultimately strengthen the economy and enhance our global competitiveness.​

 

[Saif]

LDC graduation to bring opportunities and some challenges: Commerce adviser

After the LDC graduation, Bangladesh will get greater opportunities along with some challenges, Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin said on Thursday. He was speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled "Diversification of Bangladesh's Export Basket: Challenges & Opportunity in the Post LDC Grad

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

LDC graduation to bring opportunities and some challenges: Commerce adviser
UNB
Published :
Mar 19, 2025 20:23
Updated :
Mar 19, 2025 20:23

After the LDC graduation, Bangladesh will get greater opportunities along with some challenges, Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin said on Thursday.

He was speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled "Diversification of Bangladesh's Export Basket: Challenges & Opportunity in the Post LDC Graduation" held at the FBCCI office in Motijheel on Wednesday.

He urged the business community to work together on a consensus to exploit the opportunities. FBCCI Administrator Md Hafizur Rahman presided over the seminar.

Speaking at the seminar Hafizur said that the diversification of products is one of the challenges that Bangladesh needs to face after the LDC graduation.

In this case, priority -based programmes need to be taken by finding out which products and sectors need special importance, he pointed out.

A keynote paper by Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) research director Khandaker Ghulam Moazzem was presented at the seminar.

He advised the traders to prepare on how to manage the business in the next principle of LDC.

Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Mahbubur Rahman, Chairman of Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission Dr. Mainul Khan and Export Development Bureau (EPB) Vice Chairman Md. Anwar Hossain were present as the special guests at the seminar.

They said the present government was sincere in addressing the post -LDC passage and solving the problems of the private sector.

The seminar was also attended by the Chairman and CEO of the Policy Exchange Bangladesh M. Mashroor Riaz, Pran-RFL Group Director Ujma Chowdhury, Executive Director of Square Pharmaceutical and Director of Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Association Md. Mizanur Rahman, BPGMEA President Shamim Ahmed.​

 

[Saif]

Govt delivering utmost to ensure smooth graduation from LDCs: Commerce adviser

"Be rest assured, we're doing as much as possible imbued with patriotism in this regard," he said.

en.prothomalo.com

Govt delivering utmost to ensure smooth graduation from LDCs: Commerce adviser
BSS
Dhaka
Published: 21 Mar 2025, 16: 28

Sk Bashir Uddin Prothom Alo

Commerce adviser Sk Bashir Uddin has said that the interim government has been delivering its maximum efforts as much aspossible imbued with patriotism to ensure smooth graduation of the country from the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

"Be rest assured, we're doing as much as possible imbued with patriotism in this regard," he said.

The commerce adviser said this in an interview with the national news agency at his secretariat office recently while shedding light on the various aspects of the country's LDC graduation in November 2026 and subsequently facing the reaction from the private sector over the matter.

Regarding the reservation from the private sector in the country's LDC graduation in 2026, he raised question why the private sector had literally 'slept' over the issue for years and did not raise any such a strong voice.

Earlier, it was scheduled for 2024 for Bangladesh to be graduated, but it was delayed due to various reasons including the COVID-19 pandemic and other reasons. "It's true that I can't agree or disagree with the demands from the private sector. So, it's a 'paradoxical' situation,"

Bashir went on saying, "As because, if we agree with them, then the necessary reforms will fall again into sleep...Deferring the graduation is not at all depends on the will of the government. They (private sectors) will have to accept it."

Bangladesh has passed in all the three criteria for graduating from the LDCs while it is a different argument whether those are based on right information or data or on wrong information, he mentioned.

The Commerce Adviser said they had to make the crisis management following the unruly acts of the previous AL regime. "My team members are also trying hard with sincerity and patriotism and Insha Allah, hopefully we'll be able to reach into a welfare situation for the country," he continued.

Replying to another query, he said although it is not possible to carry out all the reforms, but definitely some would be carried out. "The rest will move forward dynamically."

Meanwhile, many including a section of economists and businesspeople, were in favour of deferment of LDC graduation by a couple of years.

They reasoned that the economy needed time to cope with the severe fallout of the pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and high global inflationary pressure over the last few years.

While addressing a briefing recently, Shafiqul Alam, the chief adviser's press secretary, said the interim government had decided to keep to the schedule for availing the United Nations status graduation.

"The government has taken into consideration opinions from experts on whether the process would impact industries and settled on going for it," he said.

Besides, the chief adviser's press secretary said, benefits provided to Bangladesh for being an LDC would prevail for three years past the graduation.

Bangladesh has met all three preconditions for graduation, thanks to its economic development since the country attained independence in 1971.

The country was listed in the LDC grouping in 1975 to avail different benefits, such as zero-tariff and quota access to different countries, as the economy was on the verge of collapse following the Liberation War.

Such benefits have enabled Bangladesh to currently stand out as the second-largest garment exporter after China.

Bangladesh will lose trade worth over US$8 billion annually due to the withdrawal of post-LDC preferential trade benefits, for which the country would have to pay at least 12 percent duty on goods shipments.

Currently, 78 per cent of the country's exports avail LDC benefits in 38 countries.

The European Union (EU) has already assured that it will continue theLDC trade benefits for Bangladesh for three more years, up to 2029, asa grace period meant to enable a smooth transition.

The UK, Canada, and Australia have given similar commitments, exceptfor some conditions.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh must prepare for post-LDC challenges

Bangladesh is set to graduate from the least-developed country (LDC) club next year, which will bring several challenges in international trade.

www.thedailystar.net

Bangladesh must prepare for post-LDC challenges
CPD’s Mustafizur Rahman tells The Daily Star

Mustafizur Rahman

Bangladesh is set to graduate from the least-developed country (LDC) club next year, which will bring several challenges in international trade.

However, the country is not yet prepared to face these challenges, Prof Mustafizur Rahman, a distinguished fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), said in an interview with The Daily Star.

Bangladesh has met the criteria for graduation in all three categories -- per capita income, human asset index, and economic vulnerability index. It is expected to be upgraded at the next UN General Assembly meeting, scheduled for November 2026.

"It is very difficult to justify deferring graduation from the LDC status, as demanded by many businessmen," he said, adding that even if graduation is delayed, only Bangladesh and Afghanistan will remain in LDC status in this region.

The chief adviser to the interim government last week ordered all concerned to prepare for LDC graduation on time and Prof Rahman echoed those sentiments, saying the focus now should be on preparing to face post-LDC challenges.

He said about 70 percent of Bangladesh's exports to other countries currently benefit from preferential trade agreements, which will be phased out after graduation.

For instance, tariffs in the European Union (EU) market will increase by around 11.5 percent after LDC graduation, while an additional 15 percent will be imposed in the Canadian market.

Increased tariffs in markets like the EU and Canada will pose new challenges, said Rahman, who was a professor at the Department of Accounting and Information Systems at Dhaka University before joining the CPD full-time.

"But we are not taking adequate preparation."

To stay competitive, Bangladesh must enhance enterprise-level productivity, streamline trade facilitation, and improve compliance.

"As we graduate from the LDC category, our priority should shift from preference-based competition to efficiency-driven competition."

Exporters' costs rise if trade facilitation and logistics are not up to the mark, so steps must be taken to reduce these costs.

Bangladesh must also improve labour and environmental standards. As an LDC, buyers and consumers in developed nations have overlooked these issues. Once the country graduates, international buyers will emphasise them.

"So, it is high time to start focusing on these issues," said Rahman.

After graduation, Bangladesh will have to comply with the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) regulations, which may create difficulties for the pharmaceutical sector in exporting products.

"So, we should prepare for these situations."

Meanwhile, Donald Trump has shaken global trade by imposing tariffs. Many believe countries like Bangladesh will benefit from the tariff barriers imposed on China, Canada and Mexico.

"I have a slightly different view," said Rahman. "I don't think we should rely heavily on this."

When Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on China in 2016, Biden maintained it. During this period, Bangladesh had the opportunity to expand its ready-made garment (RMG) exports to the US, but it didn't see significant gains.

In fact, exports have slightly declined in recent years, said Rahman, who was awarded the Ibrahim Memorial Gold Medal by the University of Dhaka in 1999 for the best research work in economics.

China primarily exports non-cotton textiles, which make up around 80 percent of its total RMG exports, while Bangladesh focuses on cotton-based garments, creating market segmentation. Increased tariffs on China might benefit competitors in synthetic fibres but not Bangladesh, the economist clarified.

Moreover, such tariffs may negatively impact US economic growth and inflation, which, in turn, could affect global trade.

Instead of relying on geopolitical shifts, Bangladesh should enhance its competitiveness by reducing business costs, improving logistics, and increasing productivity.

Regarding free trade agreements (FTAs), the economist said Vietnam has 52 bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements, whereas Bangladesh has only one FTA with Bhutan.

This may be because signing FTAs requires offering lower import duties, a tough proposition considering that a significant portion of Bangladesh's revenue comes from duties.

Moreover, industrial and environmental standards will have to improve in factories, as FTAs operate on a reciprocal basis.

Since Bangladesh is set to graduate, there is no other option but to raise standards across all sectors, according to Prof Rahman.

Regarding economic stability, Rahman said several accumulated challenges existed when the interim government took power, and expectations were high.

"In the first and second quarters of the current fiscal year, economic pressure was intensifying. However, in the third quarter, some positive trends have emerged in certain indicators."

For example, Rahman said inflation remains high, but its rate has slightly declined. The availability of winter vegetables in the market during the third quarter has had a positive impact.

Besides, the adoption of a contractionary monetary policy, adjustments in revenue policies, and reductions in certain tariff rates were aimed at balancing fiscal and monetary policies. These measures seem to be having some effect, said the economist.

Another key factor is the external sector -- exports have seen double-digit growth, and remittances have recently experienced their highest growth in years.

As a result, the depletion of foreign currency reserves has halted, stabilising the exchange rate at around Tk 122 per dollar. The difference between the kerb market and the official exchange rate has also narrowed to about Tk 1.5 to Tk 2.

Consequently, imported inflation has somewhat decreased, positively impacting overall inflation, he said. However, inflation remains high, with both food and non-food inflation around 9 percent.

"This has continued to erode people's purchasing power, as wage growth has not kept pace with inflation.

"I believe there is still room for action in market mechanisms. One approach is to increase the number of active market players. Previously, a small group dominated imports, but as some have exited, new importers have entered the market," he commented.

"With greater competition, prices have stabilised to some extent."

He added that another persistent issue is extortion in certain areas. This must be addressed with a zero-tolerance policy.

Moreover, maintaining sufficient stock levels of key commodities and timely open market sales can help stabilise prices, he said.

Historically, poor data management has led to inaccurate decisions regarding production, import volumes, and stock releases. Addressing this issue can lead to more effective market interventions, the economist said.

The biggest concern is now investment. Since Bangladesh adopted a contractionary monetary policy to control inflation, interest rates have risen.

Besides, the banking sector is burdened by the significant accumulation of non-performing loans (NPLs), making it difficult to lower interest rates.

One of the major challenges is how to generate employment and how to reinvigorate investment so that entrepreneurs can actively engage.

Rahman said many investors are likely awaiting elections, hoping political uncertainty will subside afterwards, as investment decisions are usually made with a medium-term outlook.

Regarding the recovery of stolen money, Rahman, who was a member of the white paper formulation committee, said some initiatives have been undertaken.

The Bangladesh Bank has formed a special task force, and the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) are also showing some activity.

However, this process needs to be expedited. Special prosecutions should be pursued where necessary. Recovering laundered money requires legal validation and the establishment of a paper trail to identify ultimate beneficiaries.

"The country must invest in this."

If other nations can recover laundered money, so can Bangladesh. Taking action now will also send a strong message that financial crimes will not go unpunished, he added.​

 

[Saif]

LDC graduation: Challenges and progress

For years, Bangladesh has been approaching a crossroads in its development journey. Having met the criteria for graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2018, the government found itself in a conundrum.

www.thedailystar.net

LDC graduation: Challenges and progress

For years, Bangladesh has been approaching a crossroads in its development journey. Having met the criteria for graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2018, the government found itself in a conundrum. While graduation symbolises progress and economic maturity, it also threatens to remove trade preferences amid declining foreign reserves, stagnating exports, reduced incentives, and supply chain weaknesses. External shocks, including the Russia-Ukraine war, Middle East tensions, and global inflation, have further complicated this decision.

Despite these challenges, the Bangladesh government has made the courageous decision that graduating from LDC status will strengthen the nation's long-term economic prospects. Rather than postponing, Bangladesh has chosen to face these challenges, refusing to bow to external pressures and signalling confidence in the country's resilience and capacity for adaptation.

However, Bangladesh's transition differs from that of other graduating countries. With around 84 percent of exports concentrated in the ready-made garments (RMG) sector, the nation faces a concentrated risk profile. Unlike other graduating LDCs with more diversified export portfolios, Bangladesh must navigate this transition while protecting its dominant industry and accelerating diversification efforts. This reality demands an exceptional level of preparation and coordinated action.

With LDC graduation, 74 percent of Bangladesh's exports will face market access changes. The EU will enforce stricter trade regulations, such as double transformation rules of origin and an automatic safeguard clause. While GSP+ is an option, it requires compliance with 32 international conventions, and Bangladesh may not qualify since exports exceed the 37 percent threshold. Although GSP benefits in the EU will remain until 2029 and market access to the UK and Australia will continue, trade relationships with Canada, Japan, China, South Korea, and SAFTA countries remain uncertain.

Unlike Vietnam and Cambodia, which have secured favourable regional and bilateral agreements, Bangladesh must now accelerate its trade diplomacy efforts to mitigate the impact of lost preferential access.

The decision to graduate comes at a time when foreign reserves have plummeted, exports have stagnated, and export incentives have been reduced by 60 percent. Many small and medium-sized factories that relied on these benefits have closed, exposing weaknesses in competitiveness due to rising costs. To ensure the sustainability of these businesses post-graduation, the government must implement support mechanisms such as technical assistance programmes, access to affordable financing, and productivity enhancement initiatives to help offset the removal of tax advantages and preferential market access.

The RMG sector, accounting for a major percentage of national export earnings, requires special attention. The WTO and UNCTAD reported a 5 percent decline in the global clothing trade in 2024, signalling tough times. While Bangladesh saw export growth earlier this year, a two-year comparison shows stagnation.

To protect this industry, steps must be taken to enhance competitiveness through technology upgrades, skill development, and product diversification. The government and industry stakeholders should collaborate to counter falling export prices and rising production costs. Despite meeting graduation criteria in 2018, Bangladesh has made limited progress in areas such as trade logistics, energy supply, and customs efficiency. Business costs remain high, and planned economic zones are not yet fully operational.

With graduation imminent, these infrastructure and policy bottlenecks must be addressed urgently. The government should create a task force to fast-track projects that impact export competitiveness, including power generation, transportation networks, and port facilities. Since GSP+ is unlikely to offer relief, securing bilateral trade agreements is imperative.

Bangladesh must overcome regulatory and structural challenges to make itself attractive for such agreements. This requires reforms to investment policies, intellectual property protection, customs procedures, and digital trade frameworks. A negotiation team with private sector representation should be established to pursue these agreements.

The author is a former director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Associationb​