Dhaka: Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, convenor of the Citizen’s Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh, has called for creating a supportive business environment to facilitate the adoption of sustainable business models by the private sector. Speaking at a discussion on “National SDG Report (VNR) 2025: Perspective of Business Leaders” at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre, he emphasized the need for improvements in the investment climate of Bangladesh and urged government officials to provide necessary support.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the discussion was a collaborative effort organized by Citizen’s Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh, the Office of the Principal Coordinator for SDG Affairs at the Chief Adviser’s Office, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Bangladesh. The event aimed to prepare for the National SDG Report (VNR) 2025 and featured notable speakers including Md. Fazlul Haque, former President of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA); Shahamin Zaman, Executive Director of the Global Compact Network Bangladesh; and Asif Ibrahim, Core Group Member of Citizen’s Platform and Vice-Chairman of New Age Group of Industries. They delivered panel presentations on topics such as responsible production and consumption, corporate social responsibility, and financing to achieve the SDGs.
Other speakers included Shihab Quader, Director General (SDG Affairs) at the Chief Adviser’s Office, and Anowarul Haq, Assistant Resident Representative of the UNDP Bangladesh. The session was moderated by Professor Mustafizur Rahman, a Core Group Member of Citizen’s Platform and Distinguished Fellow at CPD.
Dr. Bhattacharya, also a distinguished fellow of the CPD, highlighted the importance of government support and alignment of entrepreneurs with the sustainability mission. He pointed out the need for trade bodies to play their proper roles, noting their politicization during the previous government. For achieving national success in sustainability, he underscored the importance of investment, mapping and monitoring, and policy alignment.