DHAKA, May 25, 2024 (BSS) - Speakers at a workshop today said that Feni can become a major industrial hub by utilizing the advantage of its location and improvement in its logistical facilities.

They called for establishing adequate technical and vocational education and training facilities at the grassroots level for developing the required skilled human resource pool for the post-LDC graduation scenario of the country.

Support to Sustainable Graduation Project (SSGP) of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) organized the workshop styled "Local Level Stakeholders Consultation on Inclusive, Smooth and Sustainable LDC Graduation" in collaboration with the Feni district administration, said a press release.

Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration Mohammad Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury attended the programme as chief guest while ERD Secretary Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky and Divisional Commissioner of Chattogram Md. Tofael Islam joined the event as special guests. Deputy Commissioner of Feni Musammat Shahina Akter chaired the workshop.

Speaking on the occasion, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration Mohammad Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury said that the private sector of the country should be prepared to deal with the changed scenario in the aftermath of LDC graduation.

ERD Secretary Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, in his speech, mentioned that the government is bringing systematic changes in its service delivery process through rapid digitalization as part of building 'Smart Bangladesh'.

Divisional Commissioner of Chattogram Md. Tofael Islam said that Feni can play a crucial role in Bangladesh's development due its strategic location in between Dhaka and Chattogram.

Deputy Commissioner of Feni Musammat Shahina Akter hoped that the feedback coming from the workshop would provide valuable inputs into the LDC graduation related policies and strategies of the government.

Additional Secretary of ERD and the Project Director of SSGP A. H. M. Jahangir delivered the welcome remarks of the event.

Component Manager of SSGP and Additional Secretary Dr. Md. Rezaul Bashar made a presentation providing an overview of LDC Graduation process while Component Manager of SSGP Dr. Mostafa Abid Khan delivered a presentation on 'Measures undertaken for Smooth and Sustainable Graduation'.

Valiant Freedom Fighter and eminent journalist Abu Taher, President of Feni Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ainul Kabir Shameem and Deputy Director Local Government of Feni Golam Md. Baten spoke as panelists.

The speakers called for improving the infrastructure of the local BSCIC industrial estates, lowering the interest rate of bank loans, and simplifying the submission process of tax and VAT.

 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.

The country is set to leave the list of LDCs by 2026 after enjoying a preparatory period of five years. The Government of Bangladesh is attaching highest priority to ensure smooth and sustainable graduation with momentum.

It has formed a National Committee on LDC Graduation (NCG), headed by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, involving all the relevant Ministries and organizations from both public and private sectors.

Seven thematic subcommittees have been formed under the guidance of the NCG to address various core issues related to graduation.

It is recommended by the United Nations that a graduating LDC should prepare a national smooth transition strategy (STS) during the preparatory period in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders.

The nine-member subcommittee on STS led by the Secretary ERD and co-led by the Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office is tasked with the formulation of the STS.

ERD has undertaken a project called "Support to Sustainable Graduation Project (SSGP)" to identify the impacts of graduation, to provide necessary capacity-building supports and other necessary supports to the relevant ministries as well as to promulgate this historic achievement at home and abroad by producing various research papers and publications related to graduation.

In this context, ERD, with support from SSGP, has been organizing a series of workshops at the local level to sensitize the grassroots 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.

Officials from ERD and SSGP, officials from the district administration as well as representatives from the private sector and civil society organizations participated in the workshop.