UNGA adopts historic resolution

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has unanimously adopted a resolution on the graduation of Bangladesh from the LDC category, in recognition of the country’s extraordinary achievements in the development journey.

With the adoption of the resolution, Bangladesh has completed all the procedures to graduate from the group of least developed countries (LDCs), said the Bangladesh mission at the United Nations.

The landmark achievement coincides with the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Speaking after the historic resolution was adopted on Wednesday, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Ambassador Rabab Fatima thanked all the member states, especially the development partners, for their support to reach consensus about the adoption of the resolution.

She said, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina envisioned transforming Bangladesh into a middle-income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041. She has led us from the front in this exciting journey despite the unprecedented challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Stressing that the graduation of an LDC is not only a success of the country itself but also a testimony of the strength of multilateral partnership, led by the UN, Ambassador Rabab Fatima said, “Graduation should not be a punishment; it should be a reward.”

She highlighted the importance of ensuring an incentive-based international support structure to graduating and graduated LDCs.

The permanent representative of Bangladesh to the UN also called for tailored and clearly laid down roadmaps to address every aspect of graduation challenges -- post-graduation international support measures, smooth transition, financing for implementation of sustainable development goals (SDGs) etc.

She said the upcoming 5th United Nations Conference on the LDCs (LDC5) to be held in Doha, Qatar provides the development partners with a good opportunity to come up with a transformative programme of action for the LDCs for the next decade.

The Draft Doha Programme of Action (DPOA) has identified graduation as one of its priority areas. It has set a target to enable 15 additional LDCs to meet the criteria for graduation by 2031. The success of this ambitious target will largely depend on enhanced support and solidarity from the development partners.

It is to be mentioned that Ambassador Rabab Fatima and Ambassador Robert Rae of Canada are co-chairing the preparatory process of the LDC5 conference.

"What better way to celebrate #50th anniversary of our independence & birth centenary of Bangabandhu! Fulfillment of nat’l aspiration & HPM’s vision 2021! Joy Bangla,” tweeted Rabab Fatima after the UNGA adopted the resolution on the graduation of Bangladesh from the LDC category.

“Congratulations to the people and government of Bangladesh!! This is truly an ode to the vision of Bangabandhu and the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” tweeted UNGA President Abdullah Shahid.

In a separate twitter statement, the UNGA president also congratulated the governments and people of Bangladesh, Lao PDR and Nepal for this major milestone demonstrating significant development progress in their graduation from the LDC category.

These three countries will graduate from the LDC category after an exceptionally extended preparatory period of five years (the standard period is of three years) to enable them to prepare for graduation while planning for a post-Covid-19 recovery and implementing policies and strategies to reverse the economic and social damage caused to the Covid-19 shock, said the UN.