Planning minister MA Mannan on Monday said that the government is highly determined to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. He said, “SDGs are global agreements. We must ensure sustainable development to achieve the SDGs in time. The government has taken several projects to fulfill the 17-point goal of implementing SDGs within the stipulated timeframe.”
The government is committed to achieve SDGs to develop the nation by 2041. For this, we all should work together, he added. The minister came up with the observations while addressing a seminar styled ‘Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’ organised by national English daily Bangladesh Post at National Press Club in the capital.
Editor-in-Chief of Bangladesh Post, Sharif Shahab Uddin chaired the seminar while former ambassador and also a political analyst Muhammad Zamir and former chairman of National Human Rights Commission Kazi Reazul Hoque attended as special guests. Mannan said that we should work altogether in a way that ensures development through saving the environment. “At present, our economic growth is one of the exemplary ones across the globe. As a result, we are being capable of spending more money for achieving the SDGs,” he added.
“We are yet to get climate change fund from the developed countries. They were committed to provide the fund to countries most affected by climate change,” he added. “The planning commission is tracking and coordinating all SDG-related development projects of different ministries,” Mannan said, adding, “We are also providing all sorts of support.”
“If any development partners come forward, they are welcome; if they don’t, it’s fine. We will reach our goals using our own money as we are constructing mega project Padma Bridge,” he added. At the seminar, Kazi Reazul Hoque said the government has successfully achieved the millennium development goals (MDGs). Now it is working to achieve the SDGs, he added.
He called upon the people to come forward and work together with the government to achieve the SDGs. Muhammad Zamir said if a country wants to move forward, it must ensure global standards in all sectors. Equal opportunity for every citizen would ensure the achievement of SDGs, he said.
Sharif Shahab Uddin said there is no control of journalism. Society is moving forward due to the cooperation and contribution of people from different strata of society, including politicians and journalists. All should help the government for making the country developed. It is to be noted, as per the present progress report regarding SDGs, the country is performing well in various aspects including poverty reduction, gender equality, electricity, sanitation and annual GDP growth.