ZCZC
BSS-33
SDGs-PROGRESS REPORT-TWO LAST
Replying to a query, Dr Alam said the economy of Bangladesh is
likely to get back into normal level by 2022-23 adding that when there
would be a rebound in the economy, then it would progress in a much
higher rate.
He also expressed his optimism of attaining the SDG goal on ending
poverty by 2030.
Speaking on the occasion, the planning minister said that the
government is working hard to further alleviate poverty, improve
living standards of people and develop the culture.
Mentioning that there is an obsession of having more FDI among many,
he said at the same time there is also a need for raising the local
investment. “I want my own investment…….local investment is very
much necessary. We’ll welcome FDI, but we’ll welcome more the
investment made from inside the country.”
The planning minister also stressed the need for addressing the
shortcomings in data, fighting continuously against curbing child
marriage, improving the ease of doing business index.
Mannan also opined that if the COVID-19 pandemic does not last
long, then there would be a rebound in the country’s economy like the
other countries of the world.
Principal Coordinator on SDG Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office
Zuena Aziz said the issue of regional disparity is being addressed and
there is nothing to be worried about it.
She informed that the government has strengthened monitoring of
SDGs implementation while efforts are on to enrich the data.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to attain the SDGs,” she added.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said that the consequences of
COVID-19 are likely to be enormous on Bangladesh’s attainment of SDGs
while the country’s poverty reduction and SDGs implementation might
also suffer due to COVID-19.
Under the circumstances, he said that international cooperation is
in the heart of SDGs implementation even more than in the past.
Mentioning that around $928.48 billion of additional financing would
be needed for Bangladesh to attain the SDGs, Momen also noted that the
developed countries must fulfill their commitments to meet the
financing gap in the wake of COVID-19.
UNDP Resident Representative Sudipto Mukerjee termed Bangladesh’s
progress on SDGs as “very impressive” and called for putting more
focus on urban poor, minimizing the widening digital divide, making
more investment in data, to improve the ease of doing business index
and maintaining social stability.
BSS/ASG/GM/MRU/1855hrs