Dhaka, Feb. 18 -- Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir has promised to start work immediately to postpone Bangladesh's graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category by an additional three years.

Speaking at the Secretariat on Wednesday, his first official day in office, Muktadir made it clear that work on this extension begins immediately.

"We have begun work on this from [Wednesday]. We will do whatever is required to achieve that," he said.

The minister, entered parliament for the first time, also holds the portfolios for the Ministry of Industries and the Ministry of Textiles and Jute.

Muktadir outlined the operational strategy for the delay, explaining that while the commerce ministry initiates the process, the ...