Bangladesh has sought the international community’s cooperation in mobilising resources from both internal and external sources to implement the new set of global goals, reports UNB. “Bangladesh must have the means to achieve SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals),” said State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam. He was addressing a seminar, titled ‘From Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Bangladesh in Perspective’, at Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) in the city yesterday. Laying emphasis on ‘shared responsibility’ the State Minister said the international community must come forward to complement Bangladesh’s efforts to mobilise resources. “Bangladesh needs fair and equitable terms in trade, investment, international migration, technology transfer and ODA (official development assistance) to help realise the SDGs,” Shahriar said. The State Minister mentioned that the government has incorporated SDGs in the 7th Five Year Plan, Perspective Plan of Bangladesh (2010-2021) and other associated Development Results Framework. “We’ll also need critical support in technology and capacity building areas.
In meeting our developmental and climatic challenges, we need adaptive and environmentally sound technologies, particularly in areas like health, agriculture, energy and transport,” he said. The State Minister said the SDGs can only be achieved if the financing, partnerships, implementation and monitoring measures are put in place. “It’ll require States and other relevant actors to adopt appropriate development policies, and mobilise all available resources to transform lofty principles into the modus operandi,” he added. Shahriar Alam said efforts of national authorities must be complimented by regional and international cooperation. BUP Vice Chancellor Maj Gen Sheikh Mamun Khaled spoke on the occasion as special guest while former labour secretary Dr Mahfuzul Haque and Prof Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir presented the keynote paper.