Decentralised budgets critical for SDGs implementation: analysts

Achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) will depend significantly on the effective decentralisation of the national budget allocations, analysts said yesterday.

District budgets can ensure the inclusion of the marginalised segments of the population in the national development activities, they said at a pre-budget discussion in Rangpur.

The discussion on the “Recommendations on social protection in the national budget” was organised jointly by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), RDRS Bangladesh and the Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh.

Rangpur City Corporation Mayor Sarfuddin Ahmed Jhantu attended the dialogue as the chief guest. Mustafizur Rahman, distinguished fellow of CPD, chaired the programme.

CPD's Executive Director Fahmida Khatun presented a keynote paper.

The paper showed budget allocations in areas such as social protection is lesser for Rangpur, although the division lags behind in many of the socio-economic indicators compared to other divisions of the country.

Jhantu urged the government to increase allocation for the people of Rangpur in social safety nets and development projects.

Sultana Kamal, a core group member of the Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh and eminent human rights activist, hoped that the government will play more a proactive role in keeping its commitment to the people on ensuring their social rights.

Sultana Parvin, deputy commissioner (in-charge) of Rangpur, attended the event as special guest and Selima Rahman, executive director of RDRS Bangladesh, delivered the welcome remarks. Anisatul Fatema Yousuf, a director of CPD and the coordinator of the Citizen's Platform, was also present.