Dhaka: Adviser to the Prime Minister on the Ministry of Public Administration, Md Ismail Zabihullah, emphasized the need for a unified effort by the government, NGOs, local government institutions, development partners, and field administration to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ahead of schedule. Speaking at a plenary session titled 'Reflection on SDG Localization and SDG Village Piloting Programme' held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre, Zabihullah underscored the importance of stakeholder cooperation in realizing the SDGs successfully before the target date.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the session was moderated by Dr. Monzur Hossain, Member (Secretary) of the General Economics Division (GED), and included presentations by representatives from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), GED, and UNDP on SDG localization and lessons learned from the three SDG pilot village programs. High-level discussions involved lawmakers, senior government officials, NGO representatives, and other stakeholders.
Zabihullah highlighted Bangladesh's past achievements with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and expressed confidence in the country's ability to replicate this success with the SDGs through its experience and institutional capacity. He emphasized the interconnectedness of SDG implementation with the government's election manifesto, noting that many political commitments align with the SDGs. However, he stressed that commitments outside the SDG framework should also be prioritized as part of the government's pledge to its citizens.
The adviser praised the SDG localization pilot initiative, suggesting that these villages could serve as testing grounds for SDG-related interventions before wider implementation. He recommended including a village from an underprivileged char area to address broader development challenges. Zabihullah also mentioned that true development success should be measured by its impact on ordinary people's lives rather than just economic metrics or infrastructure projects.
Dr. S M Abdul-Awal, Principal Coordinator on SDG Affairs, called for long-term, people-oriented policies to tackle socio-economic challenges and ensure sustainable development. He highlighted the government's Family Card initiative and ongoing canal excavation programs as examples of sustainable development efforts. Abdul-Awal stressed the importance of creating natural water reservoirs to address water shortages and support agriculture.
The plenary session concluded with discussions on experiences and challenges of SDG localization, followed by a vote of thanks and closing remarks from the moderator.