The "Three Zeros" visions of Chief Adviser Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus can act as a major catalyst for achieving the SDGs and achieving the SDG 17 goal in particular can play a major role in attaining all other SDGs, speakers said at a workshop in the city.
The observations came at a workshop on 'Preparing VNRs: Reviewing Progress and Strengthening Partnership for SDG-17 in context of the country's graduation from LDC held at the NEC Conference Room in the planning commission on Monday.
The Economic Relations Division (ERD), with Support from Sustainable Graduation Project (SSGP),organized the event, says a press release.
Principal Coordinator (SDG Affairs) at Chief Adviser's Office Lamiya Morshed attended the event as chief guest. Additional Foreign Secretary M. Riaz Hamidullah and the Country Director of International Labour Organization (ILO) Tuomo Poutiainen attended as special guests.ERD Secretary Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky chaired the workshop.
Ms. Lamiya Morshed said the "Three Zeros" vision - zero poverty, zero unemployment and zero net carbon emission, envisioned by Professor Muhammad Yunus provides a focused, socially inclusive approach that directly supports multiple SDGs'.
Noting that the interim government has started working to this end, she said a 12 member team led by Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya is now preparing a "white paper" on the current state of Bangladesh economy.
'We expect that the "white paper" will put forward strategic recommendations to attain the SDGs, stabilize the economy, and address the challenges that Bangladesh would encounter during its transition from least developed country (LDC) status', she said.
ERD Secretary Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky said 'Goal 17 emphasizes the critical role of partnerships and ERD has been working tirelessly to build and nurture relationships with Development Partners and International Organizations.
'The road to 2030 is undoubtedly challenging, but it is also filled with immense opportunities'. He said Bangladesh is on a transformative journey to achieve SDGs by 2030.
He said ERD plays a critical role in coordinating efforts towards attaining SDG 17, which focuses on strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development.
The UN member states are encouraged to conduct regular and inclusive reviews of the SDG progress at national and sub-national levels. These Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) are expected to serve as a basis for regular reviews by the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) at the UN Headquarter in New York.
Bangladesh has so far conducted two VNRs-- the first in 2017 and the second in 2020. The third VNR review is expected in 2025.
The workshop has been organized to assess the progress of the designated targets and indicators under SDG17 and to gather updated information and data-driven progress reports from stakeholders, Additional Foreign Secretary M. Riaz Hamidullah, said the SDG 17 can act as a major enabler in achieving all other SDGs. ILO Country Director in Bangladesh Tuomo Poutiainen said the UN system is committed to supporting Bangladesh in enhancing its data reliability to achieve the SDGs.
Additional Secretary at Chief Adviser's Office Mohd Monirul Islam highlighted Bangladesh's SDG performance and the linkage between the Three Zeros and SDGs.
RAPID chairman Dr. Mohammad Abdur Razzaque, ERD Additional Secretary and the Project Director A.H.M. Jahangir, Joint Secretary Ms Ishrat Jahan, other ERD officials, representatives from relevant agencies, development partners, private sector and civil society organizations participated in the workshop.
