Dhaka, Feb. 20 -- Bangladesh's newly elected government has formally requested a three-year extension of preparatory period for graduation from the least-developed country (LDC) category, citing transition-plan upsets for prolonged global shocks, domestic economic strains and political upheavals.

Sources say the request was made just a day after the new administration assumed office and got down to business transaction on a quick reappraisal of the ground realities.

On behalf of the government, Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky sent a letter Wednesday to Jose Antonio Ocampo, Chair of the United Nations Committee for Development Policy (CDP), seeking an extension of the LDC-graduation-preparatory peri...