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.

These opinions emerged at a consultation meeting titled, “Roundtable Discussion on the Contribution of the Private Sector in Delivering SDGs”. The meeting was held on 11 April 2019 and was jointly organised by Citizen’s Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh and Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI). This activity is a part of an ongoing discussion with different stakeholders in connection to upcoming programme of the Citizen’s Platform titled, Citizens Conclave: Four Years of SDGs in Bangladesh, to be held 27 April 2019. As a part of the national consultation, the Citizen’s Platform is preparing reports on the progress of the SDGs implementation. The national consultation will be organised before the meeting of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development in 2019. Goal-specific reports are being prepared by the Platform’s partner organisations.

Six goal-group presentations were made by respective anchor organisations. The anchor organisations are working with more partner organisations to prepare the reports. The private sector representatives opined their views and comments on the draft of the reports and also informed about their support in skills development programme that they carried out in 2017 in collaboration with the government. Collaboration among private sector and the civil society organisations were also called for.

Mr Mahbubur Rahman, President, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) – Bangladesh; Mr Golam Mainuddin, Chairman, MCCI; Mr Md Fazlul Hoque, Former President, Bangladesh Employers’ Federation (BEF) and Former President, BKMEA, and Mr Salahuddin Kasem Khan, Former President, BEF were present at the meeting. From the Citizen’s Platform, the convenor of the Platform and CPD’s Distinguished Fellow, Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya and, Core group members of the Platform, Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and Mr Asif Ibrahim, Vice Chairman, Newage Group also attended the meeting.

Representatives from the private sector and Platform’s partner organisations shared their opinions and suggestions on the draft report presented.