Govt report: Bangladesh on track to achieve SDGs

Despite challenges, Bangladesh is on the right track to achieve the United Nations’Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

According to the government's "SDG Bangladesh Progress Report 2018," the country is performing well in various aspects including poverty reduction, gender equality, electricity, sanitation and annual GDP growth.

However, the report did underscore a need for improved international cooperation and support in order to meet 41 out of the 169 targets that fall within the 17 SDGs, reports UNB.

General Economics Division (GED) Member of the Planning Commission Dr Shamsul Alam presented the report at the NEC Conference Room in Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area on Sunday.

Planning Minister MA Mannan said as Bangladesh had succeeded in achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), it couldalso achieve the SDGs. 

He said: "We have already succeeded in electricity and health sectors.”

"If the private and public sectors and NGOs work together, then we can achieve the goalsbythe defined time. We are performing well in attaining many targets of the SDGs. Now we need support and encouragement." 

The minister said the report would pave the way for more planned action to implement the goals.

The prime minister's Economic Affairs Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman emphasized the need to utilize the significant foreign aid now in the pipeline by further enhancing the capacity of the executing agencies.

He said: "There are some positive developments on SDGs over the last three years. Bangladesh has a good platform for attaining the goal. Revenue ratio should be increased.”

Stating that this kind of report generates the demand for data creation and finds shortcomings, noted economist Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud said: "First of all we need to provide quality education.”

“We have to place emphasis on youth employment, health, increasing remittance, technology and industrialization," he said. 

He added that the tax-GDP ratio is still not satisfactory and some further challenges need to be overcome in order to make it so.

UN Resident Coordinator Mia Seppo said employment is the biggest challenge for Bangladesh in attaining the SDGs. 

Mia Seppo said enhancing education quality, improving skill level, preventing violence against women, and mitigating impacts of natural disasters are also challenges.

She also spoke in favor of greater tolerance by way of human rights, and zero tolerance in the face of corruption.