Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal yesterday said that a rally will be held across the country on Mar 22 to celebrate the country’s graduation to the status of Developing Country (DC). “At the same time, the government will hold a ‘service week’ starting from March 22 as part of the celebrations,” he told reporters emerging from an inter-ministerial meeting at the home ministry yesterday. “Bangladesh is ready celebrate the status of a Developing Country,” he said. The home minister said that Bangladesh is becoming a Developing Country as the size of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) and the per capita income have increased.

“The country’s GDP growth rose to a record 7.28 per cent in the fiscal year (FY) 2016-17 and the per capita income rose to $1,610 in the FY 2016-17 from $1,465 in the FY 2015-16,” he said. “With the GDP growth, the capacity and the capabilities of our law enforcement agencies have also increased than that of the past,” he informed.

As of December last year, Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves rose to US$33.23 billion, US$630 million more than the previous month, according to the Bangladesh Bank statement.

The home minister, however, warned that the law enforcement agencies will take action if anyone tries to sabotage the celebration rally. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), in cooperation with the ministries and divisions, has taken necessary preparations to officially announce the elevation of the country’s status to the level of Developing Country.