Professor Mustafizur Rahman today spoke at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) in the capital. Photo: Collected

DHAKA, Aug 30, 2025 (BSS) – Distinguished Fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Professor Dr. Mustafizur Rahman today said that LDC graduation should not be claimed solely as a government achievement rather it is a national achievement of the private sector and the people as well.
 
“Our preparations must continue on graduation. To boost investment, a good election is necessary. Investors want the assurance of a stable government. If a good election is held within the declared timeframe, stability will return to the country,” he said.

Professor Mustafizur Rahman made these remarks today at the Shadow Parliament on “Bangladesh’s Capacity to Meet the Challenges of LDC Graduation,” held at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) in the capital, said a press release. 

The event was chaired by Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron and organized by Debate for Democracy.

Following LDC graduation, the eminent economist said large factories in the garment sector may not face much trouble, but the small and medium factories may face risk of closures. 

Since the pharmaceutical industry will no longer enjoy patent exemptions, he said medicine prices may rise to ten to thirty times. Although the work of API Park in Munshiganj near Dhaka was launched in 2012 to address this challenge, but only earth-filling has been completed there till 2025.

For successful LDC graduation, Professor Mustafizur said discipline must be restored in the financial sector. “Due to misinformation by the previous government, defaulted loans in banks were shown as Taka 1.22 lakh crore, whereas in reality, the figure is Taka 5 lakh crore,” he added.

Therefore, to meet the challenges of LDC graduation, the CPD Distinguished Fellow said that the focus must be on enhancing competitiveness, advancing technology, improving productivity, ensuring a single-window system, reducing time at ports, and cutting lead time.

In the Shadow Parliament on “Bangladesh’s Capacity to Meet the Challenges of LDC Graduation,” organized by Debate for Democracy, the debaters of Cumilla Victoria Government College defeated the debaters of Prime University to emerge as winners.

The panel of judges included Professor Abu Muhammad Rais, Professor Dr. Tajul Islam Chowdhury Tuhin, professional accountant Abul Bashir Khan, Professor Al-Amin, and journalist Touhidul Islam. After the competition, trophies, crests, and certificates were awarded to the participating teams.