The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) hosted a consultation meeting on August 31, 2026, at its Motijheel office in Dhaka to address private sector participation in LDC graduation reforms. During the session, trade leaders and entrepreneurs urged the government to craft tailored sector-specific action plans, ensure seamless execution, and set up continuous monitoring to navigate Bangladesh's transition from Least Developed Country status.

Chaired by FBCCI Administrator Md. Fazlul Hoque, the meeting featured a baseline report from Secretary General Md. Alamgir outlining post-graduation risks. He warned that Bangladesh will lose critical duty-free privileges like GSP and EBA in major markets like the European Union. In addition, stricter intellectual property laws will create major hurdles for key domestic sectors, including pharmaceuticals, agro-chemicals, and plastics.

To safeguard local industries, business experts emphasized three main priorities: building stronger trade negotiation skills, activating the National Single Window (NSW), and securing patents for locally produced goods. In addition, business leaders called for targeted financial aid, skill-building programs, and logistics support for regional CMSMEs, placing special emphasis on empowering rural women entrepreneurs.

During the open discussion, national and international trade experts emphasized that private sector challenges must be clearly identified using field-level data. The creation of a joint Public-Private Council was recommended to implement result-oriented strategies. Meanwhile, all district chambers and sector-specific associations were asked by the FBCCI Administrator to submit written proposals. These recommendations will be analyzed and presented to policymakers to boost the private sector’s global competitiveness during the extended transition period.

Other notable attendees included former FBCCI Administrator Mr. Md. Hafizur Rahman, Secretary General Mr. Md. Alamgir, and International Trade Expert Mr. Nesar Ahmed from the Support to Sustainable Graduation Project. Senior representatives and board members from major trade bodies—including BGMEA, BKMEA, BJMA, BTMA, Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and Bangladesh Diversified Jute Products Association—were also present alongside delegates from key government ministries, BSTI, and the ICT Division.