Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical industry faces the challenge of losing its Least Developed Country (LDC) status, expected in 2026. This transition may result in the loss of its ability to produce generic drugs without patent restrictions. While the European Union may grant a grace period, the industry must prepare for potential patent claims from global pharmaceutical firms.
Patent barriers loom as Bangladesh exits LDC status
Dhaka seek no delay in LDC graduation
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said on Monday that the government will not apply for a delay in Bangladesh's graduation from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) status, citing the fulfilment of many of the required targets.
“The transition deadline should not be delayed,” he said at a programme titled 'Importance and Potential of Bangladesh Cotton Cultivation to Save Foreign Exchange', held at the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) auditorium in the capital.
Trade transformation: Preparing for a Post-LDC economy
As Bangladesh prepares for its graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026, efforts to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and further integrate into the global trade system have intensified. Ready-made garments (RMG) remain Bangladesh’s largest export sector, making it the world’s second-largest exporter after China. The pharmaceutical industry has also experienced rapid expansion, with a 27 per cent year-on-year growth rate in 2021-2022, meeting 98 per cent of domestic demand and exporting to 160 countries.
