Pankhali: Residents of Pankhali village in Khulna's Dakop upazila have welcomed the government's declaration of their village as a Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Village, expressing hope that the initiative will improve their quality of life.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Sharafat Ali, a student of Government Brojolal College and a resident of the village, expressed his joy and excitement about the Prime Minister inaugurating Pankhali as an SDG Village. Sakhina Bewa, a teacher at Dakop Primary School, mentioned that the declaration was a significant honour for the villagers.
Local farmers such as Shahid Sheikh, Mony Mia, and Abu Hanif, along with village doctor Mahidul Sheikh, shared their hopes that the initiative would bring essential services like electricity, better agricultural facilities, new businesses, quality education, employment opportunities, and improved basic services to the village.
Pankhali Union Parishad Chairman Sheikh Sabbir Ahmed supported the initiative, noting that it would enhance the socio-economic condition of the coastal village and create new job opportunities. Dakop upazila BNP Joint Convener SM Mostafizur Rahman added that the initiative could accelerate Pankhali's overall development and potentially serve as a model for other rural communities.
The inauguration of the Pankhali SDG Village at Pankhali Momtaz Begum Secondary School in Dakop was conducted by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who joined the ceremony virtually from the Dhaka-China Friendship Conference Centre. The event was presided over by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, with Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Prime Minister's Adviser on Finance and Planning Dr. Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, and Planning State Minister Zonaid Saki attending as special guests.
Khulna Deputy Commissioner Hoore Jannat highlighted that the SDG Village initiative aims for comprehensive socio-economic development through strategies focused on reducing poverty, addressing waterlogging, improving education and healthcare, ensuring access to safe drinking water and sanitation, creating jobs, and tackling climate-related risks.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Khulna Development Authority Chairman SM Shafiqul Alam, Superintendent of Police Mohammad Tajul Islam, government and private officials, political leaders, teachers, students, guardians, journalists, and local residents. Dakop Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Mithu noted that the declaration had generated significant enthusiasm among residents, many of whom had long envisioned transforming Pankhali into a modern and developed village.