Dhaka, April 24 -- Bangladesh has urged the United Nations to allow more time for its transition out of the least developed country (LDC) category, citing global economic and geopolitical instability.

Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, Bangladesh's permanent representative to the UN, made the call during the general debate of the "ECOSOC Financing for Development Forum 2026" held at the UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday.

Bangladesh is currently set to graduate from LDC status on Nov 24, 2026.

Highlighting the need for a "sustainable and smooth transition", Noman pointed to a confluence of global challenges that have hampered the progress of graduating nations.

He noted that geopolitical conflicts, dwindling development aid, ...