Shawdesh desk;

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday told parliament that Bangladesh is progressing at an irresistible development pace, belying all the misconceptions of the pessimists about the future of independent Bangladesh.

“In the year of the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s Independence and Bangabandhu’s birth centenary celebration, the UNCDP recommended the graduation of Bangladesh as a developing country in 2026. It’s a matter of pride for us,” she said.

The Prime Minister said this replying to a tabled question from ruling Awami League MP Momotaz Begom (Manikganj-2).

“The development of Bangladesh is advancing at an irresistible pace, removing all the misconceptions of the pessimists about the future of independent Bangladesh,” Hasina said.

She said her government has already taken different steps for taking and implementing plans to face the global trade challenges following the graduation of Bangladesh from a least developed country (LDC).

Detailing the steps, the PM said, “The government has taken measures to formulate a strategy and action plan over Preferential Market Access and Trade Agreement in a bid to expand the export market in facing the global trade challenges after the graduation of Bangladesh from an LDC.”

Bangladesh has taken initiatives to sign Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) with different commercially important countries, she added.

Initially, the government has taken a step to sign trade agreements with 10 countries and three alliances on priority basis, the PM said Bangladesh signed a PTA with Bhutan on December 6, 2020.

The 10 countries are India, Nepal, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Japan, Singapore, the USA, Canada, China and Malaysia, she said.

Besides, a process continues to conduct negotiations with Turkey, South Africa, Morocco, Mauritius, Senegal, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Kenya and GCC countries over PTA, FTA or CEPA, she said.