Dhaka, Oct. 6 -- In 2026, Bangladesh is expected to graduate from the United Nations (UN)'s list of Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Some view this as a triumph, while others see it as a threat. The truth lies in between: graduation is neither a silver medal of development, nor a sentence of economic hardship. It is a transition-one that Bangladesh must manage carefully.

Graduation is a badge of honor, reflecting decades of progress in growth, poverty reduction, and human development. Yet it also provokes anxiety: the loss of duty-free trade preferences, concessional loans, and intellectual property flexibilities that have long cushioned Bangladesh's rise. The real debate is not about whether graduation is desirable, but about timing an...