Bangladesh has officially sought the support of the Netherlands to extend its Least Developed Country (LDC) graduation timeline and advance progress on the proposed Bangladesh-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) during bilateral talks held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka.
The request was conveyed on Tuesday (October 13, 2026) by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir during a courtesy meeting with visiting Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sjoerd Sjoerdsma. Highlighting the compound economic pressures caused by recent global crises, State Minister Kabir stressed the necessity of a timeline extension for Bangladesh's smooth economic transition out of LDC status.
Both leaders noted that newly elected governments assumed office in both Bangladesh and the Netherlands in February 2026, offering a fresh momentum to deepen their bilateral economic partnership over the next 50 years. Minister Sjoerdsma outlined upcoming Dutch trade missions focused on maritime infrastructure, textiles, and water management. Discussions also covered technical cooperation in canal dredging, delta management, semiconductor manufacturing, RMG support, agricultural cold-chain development, as well as multilateral cooperation regarding Bangladesh's presidency of the 81st UN General Assembly and a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis. Dutch Ambassador to Bangladesh Joris van Bommel was also present during the high-level delegation meeting.
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by Staff Reporter • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
