Dhaka, Nov. 21 -- Bangladesh begins a critical gap analysis of its economic strengths for aligning its trade policies with protocols of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) for joining the world's largest trade bloc.

The comprehensive analysis aims to assess where Bangladesh currently stands in comparison to the China-led grouping's standards of doing trade and business.

This move comes ahead of the bloc's next meeting scheduled to be held at the RCEP Secretariat in Indonesia in January.

Bangladesh, along with three other applicants-Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and Chile-will submit reports on their preparedness and what they are willing to commit to under RCEP's regulations.

The RCEP Secretariat sent a letter to the Ministr...