Holistic efforts imperative to achieve SDGs

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RAJSHAHI, Jan 13, 2018 (BSS) – Integrated and collective efforts of all field level officials and others concerned has become indispensible to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This view was expressed at the inaugural session of a two-daylong workshop titled “Role of BMDA for the Implementation of SDG’s at the Grassroots level in Barind Areas” at BMDA conference hall in the city today.

Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) and Australian Curtin University jointly organized the workshop.

Dora Marinova, Professor and Director, Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute, addressed the session as focal person.

More than 100 academics and officials from BMDA and other government entities like BARI, BRRI, BINA, DAE, BADC and SRDI working in 125 Upazilas under Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions joined the workshop.

Vice-chancellor of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) Prof Rafiqul Alam Beg addressed the workshop as chief guest with BMDA Chairman Dr Akram Hossain Chowdhury in the chair.

Director General of Rural Development Academy Abdul Matin, Additional Director of DAE Mostafizur Rahman, Executive Director of BMDA Abdur Rashid and its former Executive Director Dr Asaduzzaman addressed the session as special guests.

Prof Amzad Hossain and Prof Asif Iqbal Siddiqui from CUSP Institute, Director General of Geological Survey of Bangladesh Abdul Baqee Khan Majlish and Professor Shamsul Alam from Department of Geography and Environmental Science, Prof Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan from Department of Geology and Mining and Prof Monzur Hossain from Department of Botany in Rajshahi University and Prof Niamul Bari from RUET shared their expertise on the issue.

In the workshop, various issues relating to formulating policy and planning for exploration and the best uses of the existing potentialities in Barind were discussed elaborately for successful achieving the SDGs.

The speakers put forward a set of recommendations on how to explore the existing potentialities for improving living and livelihood condition of people.

“If we were committed to our own responsibility, SDGs could be achieved,” Prof Rafiqul Alam Beg said. Collective effort of all government and non- government organisations concerned is very vital for attaining all SDGs and 169 targets for overall development of the nation.

“Bangladesh will be a role model in the world in achieving the criteria of the SDGs by 2030.