Bangladesh is due to transition from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) category to Lower Middle Income Country (LMIC) status in 2026. LDC graduation reflects Bangladesh’s economic strength and resilience to financial and climate shocks, and it highlights the extent of the country’s economic and social progress. However, despite this progress, Bangladesh continues to face challenges concerning business-related human rights abuses and barriers to accessing effective remedies.

Bangladesh will need to make significant efforts in the coming years to ensure a smooth transition to the post-LDC era. Hard-learned lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic can inform how Bangladesh navigates LDC graduation and ensures that its policies respond to the needs of people and the planet. One of the key measures for the government to continue this path of development would be to create an enabling environment that promotes responsible business conduct (RBC) and a clean and green economy in line with international standards and local circumstances. The Eighth Five Year Plan of the country stipulates that the economic growth of Bangladesh should be fostered and complemented with transparency and accountability, non-discrimination and fairer social inclusion. The country only stands to gain from a human rights compliant and climate-resilient approach to development. It is, therefore, vital to take a closer look at how different actors can collaborate to mitigate adverse impacts on human rights and contribute to achieve the SDGs while graduating from LDC status.

With support from the Government of Sweden and the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) are organizing a series of trainings, seminars, and a national dialogue for government officials, business leaders, civil society actors, workers' organizations and more to discuss how to promote responsible business conduct for sustainable development in Bangladesh.

NATIONAL DIALOGUE VENUE:

Le Méridien Dhaka
79/A Commercial Area, Airport Rd., Nikunja 2, Khilkhet, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1229
Tel: +880 963-8900089

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