All ministries and divisions have started making preparation to celebrate Bangladesh's graduation to the developing country from the list of the Least Developed countries (LDCs) under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Bangladesh achieved outstanding scores in two consecutive reviews by the United Nations Committee for Development Policy for graduating from the list of LDCs in February this year.
Prime Minister's Office has instructed all ministries and divisions to take steps to celebrate the event colorfully as it coincides with those of Bangabandhu's birth centenary and the 50th anniversary of the country's independence, sources said.
The achievement will be celebrated nationally from Dhaka on April 7, said an official of the Economic Relations Division (ERD).
The celebration programme titled "Golden Jubilee of Independence: From Least Developed Country to Developing Bangladesh" will include rallies, seminars, cultural events, quiz competitions and video shows on development activities and on the life of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
As part of the programme, a two-day development fair will be organised at district and upazila levels on March 27 and 28.
The PMO and the ERD will jointly arrange "Support to Sustainable Graduation Project", while the ERD will provide the technical and financial support to the celebration. The ERD will bear the expenses for the event.
Earlier, the PMO sent a letter to all ministries and divisions to arrange the celebration programme in open spaces at district and upazila levels maintaining health protocols becauseof Covid-19.
"Achieving the status of a developing country is an issue of pride and joy for Bangladesh. The Prime Minister has dedicated the achievement to the new generation of the country. That is why, the achievement will be celebrated all over the country with the participation of the mass people," said the PMO in its letter.
The PMO has also instructed the authorities concerned to allocate Tk 2 lakh for each district and Tk 70,000 for each upazila to celebrate the event.
Essay competitions will also be arranged in April after the opening of schools.
"The Deputy Commissioners and UNOs will be fully responsible to celebrate the event at the national level," the ERD officials said, adding that the local administrations have been instructed to strictly maintain the health and hygiene regulations to avoid new infection of Covid-19 from the events.
However, due to coronavirus, the size of the event may be trimmed, ERD officials said. If the coronavirus situation deteriorated, the matter would be left to the local authorities, they added.
Bangladesh got listed on the LDC in 1975. Countries in the LDCs enjoy a variety of economic benefits from developed and developing countries. However, if their economies stand on a solid foundation, they have to come out of this list.
It is recommended that a country exits the LDC list if it achieves the desired scores in any two of the three indicators in two consecutive assessments.
In both the evaluations, Bangladesh has passed all three indices. At the end of the five-year transition period, the UN General Assembly will announce the final transition of Bangladesh in 2026.