New york: Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Irene Khan, has called upon global development partners to enhance their support for Bangladesh’s efforts to fast-track the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensure a sustainable transition from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Khan addressed these points during a session on the second day of the national conference titled ‘Navigating Five Year Strategic Framework for Achieving SDGs: Policy, Partnership and Priorities’. This session, held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre, involved representatives from the United Nations, development partners, and government officials to deliberate on development priorities and partnership needs.
Khan emphasized that Bangladesh is experiencing a unique ‘window of opportunity’ to significantly advance its development journey. She expressed the government’s eagerness to engage with international entities to deepen discussions on development priorities and SDG implementation.
As Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Khan aims to connect national development efforts with international support, ensuring global attention to national discussions. She noted Bangladesh’s success with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and highlighted the greater challenges posed by the SDGs, stressing the importance of this critical period for Bangladesh.
Highlighting the government’s commitment, Khan mentioned a focus on investing in key sectors, enhancing implementation and monitoring, and collaborating closely with development partners to recover lost time. She also emphasized the role of domestic partners, particularly civil society and local communities, in achieving the SDGs.
Khan discussed Bangladesh’s request for an extension of the LDC graduation preparation period, stating it would facilitate a sustainable transition. She pointed out that priorities in Bangladesh’s roadmap align closely with SDG implementation, such as financial sector reforms, investment climate improvements, and trade facilitation.
She urged development partners to consider these interconnected priorities and support Bangladesh’s initiatives. Khan acknowledged the country’s resource constraints but expressed confidence in Bangladesh’s energy, creativity, and innovation to accelerate development.
Principal Coordinator on SDG Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. SM Abdul-Awal, emphasized the need for enhanced support from development partners, including concessional financing and technical assistance, to progress towards the SDGs by 2030. He highlighted Bangladesh’s strengths and weaknesses in various SDG indicators and identified key priorities for accelerating SDG implementation.
UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, Carol Flore-Smereczniak, assured alignment of development partners’ support with Bangladesh’s strategic framework, highlighting the importance of SDGs in achieving Bangladesh’s aspirations for growth and resilience.
The session saw participation from various international representatives and emphasized the necessity for a collaborative effort to support Bangladesh’s development journey and ensure no one is left behind.