Bangladesh is aspired to be a higher middle-income country and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Labour-productivity of Bangladesh would be far-behind than the higher middle-income countries in 2030, even lower than that of the lower-middle income countries as well as those of India and Vietnam.
Non-state actors including NGOs, think tanks, media and private sectors, in developing countries, like Bangladesh, are playing a critical role in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They are contributing in this SDG journey through prioritising development agenda, implementing the targets, monitoring the delivery and ensuring accountability in the overall process. Their contribution in the development discourse needs to be appreciated properly so that the governments and international development partners can forge a comprehensive strategy for SDG delivery.
A day-long conclave titled, Citizens Conclave: Four Years of SDGs in Bangladesh was organised by the Citizen’s Platform on Saturday 27 April 2019 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC), Dhaka. Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) as the Secretariat of the Platform executed the event along with over 100 other partner organisations of the Platform.
The local government needs to play an effective role in ensuring that the benefit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reaches all. Thus, enhanced participation in the SDGs implementation process and empowerment of the local government is vital. A “Local Government Commission” can be formed to ensure proper harmonisation among the ministries and the administration and also to strengthen the voice of the local government.
Private sector’s activities targeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) needs to be well structured and enhanced. Moreover, their work is not very well documented. They should have a targeted plan of action for achieving different targets of SDGs.
Relevant stakeholders need to play an effective role in implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. In the SDGs implementation process, media will play a vital role to ensure data availability, transparency and accountability.
At present more than one third of the population of Bangladesh belong to the youth cohort, aged between 18-35 years. It is high time for the country to utilise this young cohort towards national development while the country is in the pursuit of realising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. If empowered and utilised properly, the youth will the lead the nation to achieve the SDGs.
The Government of Bangladesh is committed to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Hence, they are aligning their national development policies and strategies accordingly. The civil society organisations have been contributing to the national development since the independence. Strong synergies with the government organisations will collectively enhance the country’s capacity to deliver the ambitious development agenda of SDGs.
Bangladesh is in the fourth year of its journey towards attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. It is a high time to track and review the measures taken till date and the methods being used to deliver the SDGs in the country. The International Development Partners of Bangladesh expressed their interest in supporting Bangladesh in attaining the SDGs, particularly in the areas of human rights and good governance.
It is high time for the policymakers to reflect the youth aspirations in the national agenda and implement the election commitments. These views were shared at a dialogue on Electoral Commitments and Youth Agenda on 22 February 2019 in Rangpur.
