Speakers at a workshop on Saturday called for creating a business-friendly environment for the non-resident Bangladeshis for attracting investment from the NRBs.
Support to Sustainable Graduation Project (SSGP) of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) organized the workshop in Sylhet styled‘’ Local Level Stakeholders Consultation on Inclusive, Smooth and Sustainable LDC Graduation’’ in collaboration with the district administration of Sylhet as well as the Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Speakers also called for reaping the full potential of local agriculture, tourism as well as geographic location to enhance the economic growth of the region.
ERD Secretary Sharifa Khan graced the occasion as chief guest while the President of the Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry Tahmin Ahmed attended the event as special guest. Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Md. Mozibor Rahman chaired the workshop.
It is notable that Bangladesh met all the criteria for graduation from the LDC status during the triennial review of the Committee for Development Policy (CDP) of the United Nations back in 2018 and 2021. Consequently, CDP recommended Bangladesh for LDC graduation with a five year long preparatory period. The recommendation has been duly endorsed by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). ERD, with support from SSGP, has been organizing a series of workshops at the local level to sensitize the grassroot level stakeholders regarding the process and opportunities of LDC graduation as well as to discuss on how the local level stakeholders can be involved in the process of ensuring smooth and sustainable LDC graduation.
Speaking on the occasion, ERD Secretary Sharifa Khan termed LDC graduation as a matter of pride for the country. Recalling that Bangladesh had been able to successfully tackle various global challenges in the past—she hoped that Bangladesh would similarly be able to maintain the development momentum even after the LDC graduation.
Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Md. Mozibor Rahman, in his speech, said that awareness building and sensitization about LDC graduation at the grassroot level would help to make the country’s development process more inclusive and sustainable.
President of the Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry Tahmin Ahmed emphasized on necessary training and skill enhancement of the local population to prepare the country for LDC graduation.
Upazila Chairman of Sylhet Sadar Alhaj Ashfaque Ahmed, Managing Director of Baraka Power Ltd. Fahim Ahmed Chowdhury and Associate Professor of the Department of Architecture of Shahjalal Science and Technology University Subrata Das also spoke during the workshop.
Officials from ERD and SSGP, officials from the district administration as well as the representatives from the private sector and civil society participated in the workshop.