To raise awareness among students and academia about the opportunities and challenges of Bangladesh’s graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category, Daffodil International University (DIU) and the Support to Sustainable Graduation Project (SSGP) under the Economic Relations Division (ERD) jointly organized a national seminar titled “Bangladesh’s LDC Graduation and Structural Transformation: Role of Youth and Academia in Economic Transformation” at the university’s International Conference Hall in Birulia, Savar.
Chief Guest and Keynote Speech
Dr. Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, Special Assistant (State Minister Rank) to the Chief Adviser for the Ministry of Finance, attended the seminar as the Chief Guest and delivered the keynote speech. He emphasized that Bangladesh is fully prepared for its LDC graduation and that deferral is not an option. He stressed the importance of enhancing productivity through better wages, training, and the adoption of eco-friendly energy sources to ensure competitiveness beyond LDC-specific privileges. He noted that a high-level monitoring committee is in place to oversee a smooth and sustainable transition.
Guests and Chair
Dr. Md. Sabur Khan, Former President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), attended as Guest of Honour, while Prof. M R Kabir, Vice Chancellor of Daffodil International University, presided over the session.
Panel Discussion
The panel of distinguished discussants included Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD); Ms. Ferdaus Ara, CEO, Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD); and Mr. Abdul Baki, Project Adviser, SSGP, ERD.
The session was also addressed by Professor Dr. Md. Mohammed Masum Iqbal, Pro Vice Chancellor, Daffodil International University, and Mr. A. H. M. Jahangir, Additional Secretary, Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Finance.
Remarks on Youth Engagement
Dr. Md. Sabur Khan highlighted the vital role of youth in the LDC graduation process, stating that students must drive innovation, develop relevant skills, and promote inclusive policies to ensure a smooth transition. He emphasized that young people are not merely beneficiaries but active contributors to national development, helping to diversify exports, build a competitive workforce, and move toward upper-middle or high-income status.
Seminar Outcome
The organizers expressed hope that the seminar would foster interactive dialogue among policymakers, academia, and students while motivating the younger generation to take an active role in shaping Bangladesh’s post-graduation development path.
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