Bangladesh elected to lead LDC council

Dhaka, Oct 7 (UNI) Bangladesh has been elected the chairman of the coordination council of Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

Bangladesh Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed formally took over the charge of the 50-member LDC forum from the foreign Minister of Benin Moussa Okanlaon, the first elected chairman, yesterday.

Talking to mediapersons the Foreign Adviser expressed his happiness over being elected to lead the group of 50 LDCs.

''It's a challenge too. I am aware of its immense responsibility and I firmly believe that we have that ability,'' he was quoted as saying by the Daily Star.

In 2006, the LDC ministerial meeting decided that next chairman would be elected from Asia.

However, Bangladesh and Nepal, both aspired for the post creating a stalemate in electing the next chairman. Finally, foreign ministers of 50 LDCs extended total support to Bangladesh's candidature.

Assuming the chairmanship, Mr Ahmad said the first challenge before them is implementation of the Brussels programme on the LDCs, adopted unanimously by the international community in 2001.

He expressed the hope that LDC products would get free access to developed countries. He also said alongside the fulfilment of developed nations' commitments, targets for removing poverty and attaining economic progress should be fulfilled.

The newly-appointed chairman assured that Bangladesh would attach highest priority to uphold the interest of LDCs.

The coordination council of LDCs was constituted in 2001 with countries like Bangladesh, Benin, Cambodia, Central African Republic of Congo, Guinea, Maldives and Nepal as members among others.

UNI