Bangladesh has called for a UN-led international debt relief mechanism to help developing countries cope with mounting fiscal pressures from global crises. It also sought backing for a three-year extension of its preparatory period for graduating out of the Least Developed Country (LDC) category.

The issues were raised at high-level meetings at the UN Headquarters in New York yesterday as Bangladeshi ministers intensified diplomatic efforts ahead of graduating out of the LDC category.

The finance and planning adviser, Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, urged the UN to establish an international mechanism for debt restructuring, debt relief, debt suspension and sustainable debt solutions to protect investments in children, women, education, health and social protection.

He made the call during a meeting with UNICEF Deputy Executive Director for Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations Ted Chaiban at UNICEF House.

Planning state minister, Zonayed Saki, outlined the government's proposed "One Child, One Card, One Number and One Wallet" strategy to improve birth registration, school enrolment and access to public services.

Ted Chaiban congratulated Bangladesh's newly elected government and welcomed the country's election to the presidency of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

Separately, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir held bilateral meetings with ECOSOC President and Nepal's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Lok Bahadur Thapa and ECOSOC Vice-President and Algeria's Permanent Representative Ambassador Amar Bendjama.

The minister sought international support for Bangladesh's request to extend the LDC graduation preparatory period until November 2029.