DHAKA, Sept 19, 2019 (BSS) – Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen said Bangladesh has launched Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) tracker aimed at creating a data repository for performance monitoring of achieving the SDGs along with other national development goals.
“Good news is – we have launched SDG tracker that can be used for comprehensive target setting and monitoring progress of each SDG, along with the indicators,” he said.
The minister was inaugurating a conference titled “SDGs and Bangladesh”, jointly organized by foreign ministry and UN resident coordinator’s office at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) here.
After an outstanding performance in achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), he said Bangladesh is now focusing on the attainment of the SDGs.
“We are hopeful that we are on the right track and will overcome our challenges as we did in the past in order to successfully accomplish the SDGs with the cooperation of UN and all other stakeholders,” he said.
Momen observed that engagement of the larger society and partnership with all stakeholders is very important for achieving the SDGs and Vision-2041.
“Digital Bangladesh is a reflection of the government’s intention to ensure inclusion of all where we are left behind,” he said.
He said Bangladesh is one of the countries which included the SDGs in their national development plan such as 7th National Development Plan and Delta Plan-2100 which portrays the country’s commitment towards achieving the SDGs.
The foreign minister said under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has turned itself into “Development Miracle”.
Although Bangladesh is progressing in every dimension, Momen said, “vulnerability to the climate change poses a great threat to us.”
He mentioned that the government has developed the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP) funded by its own money.
“Ending poverty, ensuring health facilities for all, reducing child and maternity deaths, reducing inequality in all spheres of national life, ensuring quality education, ensuring environmental well-being are some of the major challenges we need to overcome,” he said.
Momen urged all stakeholders to work together in the foreseeable future to achieve anticipated outcomes in terms of SDGs.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam, UN Resident Coordinator Mia Seppo, Member (Senior Secretary), General Economics Division, Planning Commission Dr. Shamsul Alam and UNFPA Regional Director, Asia Pacific Bjorn Andersson also spoke.
Shahriar said Bangladesh has its political commitments and policy support for successful implementation of the SDGs. “We are mobilizing our resources, enhancing capabilities and empowering people with this end,” he added.
The state minister said SDGs will require much greater, long-term and assured global resources and support for sustainable development in developing countries like Bangladesh.