International conference on SDGs set for Dhaka next week

Finance Minister AMA Muhith is set to be the chief guest at the inaugural session of an international conference in Dhaka next week which is aiming to help the government achieve the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs).

The Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB) is organizing the day-long conference titled “Achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs): challenges and the way forward” on Sunday, September 23 at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.

ICMAB President Mohammed Salim told reporters yesterday that different professional accounting bodies across the world are holding conferences to increase awareness and help their respective governments to achieve the SDGs. 

“The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) is also putting emphasis on the role of professional accountants in supporting the government,” he said.

The ICMAB president said over 400 local and foreign professionals are set to attend the conference, for which ICMAB has taken a multi-stakeholder approach.

He said: “Regulators, corporate practitioners, accountants, other professionals, development partners, NGOs, bureaucrats, academics, IT experts, women entrepreneurs, and other related parties are coming under a single platform to engage in policy dialogue on the SDGs.”

The Bangladesh government has, in principle, already integrated the SDGs in national plans by inserting them in the 7th Five Year Plan, which began in 2016.

To support the collection of data on progress in the SDGs, the government has installed an SDG Tracker with the support of a2i and the Prime Minister’s Office.

Through inter-ministerial meetings, the government has also finalized the targets for each of the 41 lead ministries and divisions. Bangladesh placed in 111th position out of 169 countries, ahead of India, in the SDG Index and Dashboard Reporting for 2018.

The government, however, will face challenges in terms of financing the SDGs, minimizing data gaps and risk, implementing monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and engaging multiple stakeholders.

There will be six technical sessions at the SDGs conference, where more than 40 experts from home and abroad will participate as session chairpeople, presenters and panelists. The six sessions are:

- Role of Professional Accountants in Achieving SDGs

- Changing Corporate Reporting Landscape

- Development Partners’ Role in Achieving SDGs

- Women’s Participation in Achieving SDGs

-Economic Preparedness in Achieving SDGs

- Role of IT and Quality Education in Achieving SDGs

Wednesday’s press conference was also attended by ICMAB Executive Director Md Mahbub Ul Alam and Director Nazmus Salehin.