Dhaka, Jan. 27 -- Bangladesh is not yet fully prepared to absorb the aftershocks from least-developed country (LDC) graduation with key sectors like banking and finance and manufacturing staring at significant challenges looming large.

Economists, business leaders and experts came up with such forewarning at a roundtable discussion Tuesday, as the cutoff time for UN certification for the country's status change keeps nearing now.

They said following the graduation set for November 2026, such sectors would face difficulties adjusting the loss of preferential treatment and increased competitive pressure on the global market.

They have cautioned that without swift reforms along with adequate preparation, the transition could strain the fi...