New York, 21 July 2026: The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has recommended that the United Nations General Assembly take a final decision on the requests by Bangladesh and Nepal for a three-year extension of the preparatory period before their graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category. The recommendation was made through a decision adopted by consensus by ECOSOC Member States at a meeting of the Council today. Bangladesh's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury introduced the draft decision on behalf of Bangladesh and Nepal and outlined the rationale for the extension requests.

The ECOSOC decision followed assessments by the Committee for Development Policy (CPD), which found that it would be appropriate for the UN General Assembly to consider extensions for both countries. Through the decision, the Council recommended that the General Assembly take a final decision on the matter before 24 November 2026, the date on which Bangladesh and Nepal are currently scheduled to graduate. Following the adoption of the decision, Ambassador Chowdhury reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to sustainable graduation. He also reiterated Bangladesh’s firm commitment to undertake the necessary policy measures and reforms and strengthen the country's readiness for graduation if the General Assembly take the final decision on deferral.