The LDC graduating countries should be given international support and incentive packages so that they can exit from the group smoothly and overcome the unexpected shock from Covid-19, the finance ministry has said.

AHM Mustafa Kamal made the call UN Under Secretary General and UNESCAP executive secretary met him virtually on Friday, a finance ministry release said.

Bangladesh has approved policy statement for four-dimensional Covid-recovery strategy in line with 2030 global sustainable development agenda.

“Now, we’re following a development method which is more inclusive, resilient and environment-friendly,” he said, adding that Bangladesh Prime Minister also sought support to it in 77th UNESCAP meeting.

Kamal sought technological and capacity enhancing support from UNESCAP in areas of trade facility, digital trade, paperless crossborder trade, capital market development, PPP network, sustainable multi-modal transport, energy policy and planning.

He hoped that the UN body can play an important role in the initiatives for Asian highway, trans-Asian railway, dryportsa and tripartite highway involving Thailand, India and Myanmar to improve regional connectivity. The virtual meeting discussed the issue of attending a high-level Bangladesh delegation at Macroeconomic Policy, Poverty Reduction and Financing for Development (MPFD) meeting to be held during October 20-22.

Pointing to the Bangladesh economic resilience and the leadership of Bangladesh Premier, the finance minister said the country is committed to achieving SDGs by 2030 and becoming a well off nation by 2041.

“Even though the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted economic progress of Bangladesh like other countries of the world, the judicious fiscal and monetary steps of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have help overcome the challenges,” Kamal noted.