- Bangladesh is strengthening its trade negotiation capacity as it prepares for its 2029 graduation from the UN's Least Developed Country (LDC) status.
- Critics argue that the country has consistently secured unfavorable terms in deals like those with the U.S. and Japan due to inadequate preparation and a lack of dedicated, permanent negotiators.
Structural Challenges
- Current negotiation teams consist of officials from multiple ministries juggling other duties rather than specialized professionals.
- Negotiations are often rushed, sometimes concluding in 6 to 8 months compared to the years spent by other nations.
- Institutional memory is frequently disrupted by the transfer of experienced personnel during ongoing talks.
Reform Efforts
- The government is forming a 'Negotiator Pool' of 150 officials trained by JICA and UNDP.
- Dr. Mostafa Abid Khan recommends establishing a dedicated department focusing on specific sectors like intellectual property and tariffs.
- A technical assistance project is planned to run through 2030 to bolster long-term capabilities.
This summary was generated by AI from the original article and may omit nuance or later updates. How everytldr works