Dhaka: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday stressed that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires collective efforts from all societal segments, presenting the government’s vision of a democratic state founded on free elections, the rule of law, and institutional accountability. “No single ministry or department can implement the SDGs alone. Success requires the collective efforts of the government, private sector, development partners, NGOs, civil society, the media, and every citizen,” the Prime Minister stated.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the Prime Minister made these remarks while inaugurating the national conference titled ‘Navigating Five-Year Strategic Framework for Achieving SDGs: Policy, Partnership and Priority 2026.’ The General Economics Division (GED) of the Bangladesh Planning Commission and the Governance Innovation Unit (GIU) of the Prime Minister’s Office jointly organized the national conference at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.
Tarique Rahman expressed optimism that during the three-day conference, each coordinating ministry and division will discuss its progress, challenges, and future priorities, and formulate realistic and timely action plans to achieve the SDGs. “Let us all work with firm determination to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030,” the Prime Minister urged.
He elaborated on the government’s vision for the future, which is clear on several fundamental issues. “We want to build a democratic state where there will be free elections, rule of law, and institutional accountability; a humane state where healthcare, education, and citizens’ rights will be universal; and a welfare state where equal economic opportunities and intergenerational equity will be ensured,” the Prime Minister said.
Rahman highlighted Bangladesh’s progress in implementing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and its ongoing efforts towards achieving the SDGs. He noted that the SDG principle of “leaving no one behind” aligns closely with the government’s focus on prioritizing Bangladesh while safeguarding the interests of all societal segments.
Referring to the BNP’s historical development plans, Rahman emphasized his party’s people-oriented programmes. He cited the late President Ziaur Rahman’s 19-point programme, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s Vision 2030, and the current 31-point state reform agenda as examples of initiatives that broadly reflected the goals of the MDGs and SDGs.
The Prime Minister criticized over a decade and a half of what he described as “fascist rule,” which he claimed left Bangladesh dependent on loans and imports, weakening key sectors like education, healthcare, and the environment. He stated that rebuilding the country requires a comprehensive approach with the SDGs playing a crucial role in guiding the process.
As part of these efforts, Rahman mentioned the government’s steps toward implementing a five-year strategic framework for economic development, aligning the national development plan with the UN’s SDGs. He outlined the government’s five pillars of reform and development, reflecting key SDG priorities such as poverty reduction, universal social protection, quality education and healthcare, gender equality, climate resilience, and good governance.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the government’s ‘3R’ strategy-recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction-aimed at strengthening the country from immediate stability to long-term structural transformation. He noted several social protection programmes being implemented, including the Family Card for women’s social and economic empowerment, the Farmers’ Card to protect farmers’ interests, and the e-Health Card to improve access to public healthcare.
Rahman announced that the government is also working on initiatives like the Sports Card and plans to extend honorarium support to imams, muezzins, and religious leaders from different faiths. “These initiatives will gradually expand the government’s support network to people from every section of society,” he said, emphasizing the goal of bringing as many citizens as possible under social protection and economic support schemes during the current term.
During the programme, the Prime Minister inaugurated three pilot Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) villages as part of the government’s initiative to localize the SDGs across Bangladesh. The villages-Mitingachhari in Kaptai upazila of Rangamati, Pankhali in Dacope upazila of Khulna, and Nafanagar in Bochaganj upazila of Dinajpur-will implement various programmes, including Family Cards, Health Cards, Farmers’ Cards, loans for small and medium enterprises, school uniforms, madrasa-based education, renewable energy, village tourism, blue employment, ‘One Village, One Product’, tree plantation, canal restoration, and ecotourism.
“The impact of these programmes will also be monitored, and based on the success of the initiative, the government plans to expand the model to other villages,” Rahman said. He expressed hope that the SDG Village initiative would evolve into an internationally recognized development model showcasing the government’s electoral commitments.
Rahman concluded by expressing the government’s commitment to building a Bangladesh where people can live in peace and enjoy equal opportunities, ensuring that no section of society is left behind. The event also featured speeches by Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Finance and Planning Zonayed Saki, Planning Division Secretary SM Shakil Akhter, and UN Resident Coordinator Carol Flore-Smereczniak, among others, with Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury presiding over the session.