Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called upon all concerned parties to take proactive steps to maximize the benefits and opportunities following Bangladesh's graduation from the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) category in 2026. She emphasized the need for strategic planning to address the challenges that may arise post-graduation.

The directive was issued during the 2nd meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Eenec) and the 8th Ecnec meeting of the current fiscal year (FY24) held at the NEC conference room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka.

Senior Secretary of the Planning Division, Satyajit Karmakar, briefed reporters after the meeting, stating that the prime minister stressed the importance of coordinated efforts to leverage the opportunities presented by LDC graduation. She highlighted that this responsibility extends beyond any single ministry and requires a cross-cutting approach.

The Planning Minister, Major General (Retd) Md Abdus Salam, and State Minister for Planning, Md Shahiduzzaman Sarker, also addressed the meeting.

A total of 11 projects, with an estimated cost of TK8,425.51 crore, were approved during the meeting, with the government of Bangladesh contributing TK7,939.87 crore and the remainder sourced from project assistance.

Key directives from the prime minister included provisions for the construction of the Bangladesh Chancery Complex and Residential Building in Cairo, Egypt, to accommodate expatriate Bangladeshis comfortably. Emphasis was placed on rural infrastructural development in the greater Rangpur region, with a directive to address issues such as river erosion and flooding.

Regarding the Union Parishad Complex project, the prime minister urged the incorporation of rainwater preservation facilities and solar systems, particularly in coastal areas.

Additionally, directives were given to prioritize women's training in the Bangladesh Handloom Board Complex project in Mirpur.

While addressing delays in project implementation due to land acquisition complexities and fluctuations in the dollar price, the planning minister assured that development projects are scrutinized thoroughly to minimize delays.

Overall, the prime minister emphasized the importance of timely completion and effective implementation of development projects to ensure maximum benefit for the country's progress.