Clarification

Mustafizur Rahman, executive director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue, yesterday gave a clarification to a news published on The Daily Star on Wednesday with the headline “Bangladesh must improve labour rights to qualify for GSP Plus: expert”.

In the news Rahman was quoted as saying: “He said Bangladesh might graduate to a middle income country in 2024, and as per the rules the country will be given another three years for preparation. So, it is estimated that Bangladesh will graduate to a middle income country at the end of 2027." "So, up to 2027, Bangladesh will be enjoying the GSP under the EU's EBA”. In the clarification Rahman said: “CPD analysis shows that, Bangladesh is likely to be considered for graduation by the Committee for Development Policy (CDP) of the UN by 2018.”

“Bangladesh is expected to finally graduate from the LDC Group by 2024 following two subsequent triennial reviews by the CDP. According to current provisions, Bangladesh will continue to receive preferential market access, including under the EU's Everything But Arms (EBA) scheme, for an additional three years, till 2027.”

“As is known, Bangladesh has already become a low middle income country in 2015, according to the World Bank criteria, and quoting me saying this was not reporting correctly what I actually said.” The Daily Star regrets the error.