Photo: BSS

KHULNA, Aug 10, 2026 (BSS) - Residents of Pankhali village in Khulna's Dakop upazila have welcomed the government's declaration of their village as a Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Village, expressing hope that the initiative will improve their quality of life.

"I cannot express in words what I feel at this moment. I can only take a deep breath with joy as our Prime Minister inaugurated Pankhali as an SDG Village," said Sharafat Ali, a student of Government Brojolal College and a resident of the village.

Sakhina Bewa, a teacher at Dakop Primary School, said the declaration was a great honour for the villagers.

Local farmers Shahid Sheikh, Mony Mia and Abu Hanif, along with village doctor Mahidul Sheikh, said they hoped the initiative would bring electricity, better agricultural facilities, new businesses, quality education, employment opportunities and improved basic services to the village.

Pankhali Union Parishad Chairman Sheikh Sabbir Ahmed welcomed the initiative, saying it would help improve the socio-economic condition of the coastal village and create new employment opportunities.

Dakop upazila BNP Joint Convener SM Mostafizur Rahman said the initiative could accelerate Pankhali's overall development and turn it into a model that could be replicated in other rural communities.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the Pankhali SDG Village at Pankhali Momtaz Begum Secondary School in Dakop on Sunday. He joined the ceremony virtually from the Dhaka-China Friendship Conference Centre.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury presided over the programme. Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Prime Minister's Adviser on Finance and Planning Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir and Planning State Minister Zonaid Saki attended as special guests.

Khulna Deputy Commissioner Hoore Jannat said the SDG Village initiative would support comprehensive socio-economic development through measures aimed at reducing poverty, addressing waterlogging, improving education and healthcare, ensuring access to safe drinking water and sanitation, creating jobs and tackling climate-related risks.

Khulna Development Authority Chairman SM Shafiqul Alam, Superintendent of Police Mohammad Tajul Islam, government and private officials, political leaders, teachers, students, guardians, journalists and local residents attended the inauguration ceremony.

Dakop Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Mithu said the declaration had generated considerable enthusiasm among residents, many of whom had long dreamed of transforming Pankhali into a modern and developed village.