Chart roadmap for the ones left behind

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has stressed the need for charting out a bold and ambitious global roadmap to put the world back on the SDGs track so that no one is left behind as the pandemic has pushed many countries way behind from the goals.

"We have already entered the Decade of Delivery and Action of the Agenda. Yet the goals seem to be far away for many countries… the pandemic has pushed them further behind. We need to chart out a bold and ambitious global roadmap to put us back on the SDGs track," she said.

The PM was addressing the 9th Annual International Conference on Sustainable Development virtually on Monday.

Earth Institute, Columbia University, Global Masters of Development Practice, and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network organised the event.

Hasina said no country can achieve SDGs alone. "We need enhanced global collaboration and solidarity to advance this agenda."

To pull back the countries which are way behind the track of attaining SDGs in right time, Hasina put forward a five-point proposal in this regard.

The proposals are: Ensuring vaccines for everyone, everywhere, closing the huge resource gap in implementing the 2030 Agenda, focusing on job creation, social protection, women empowerment, and science, technology, and innovation to deal with the impacts of the pandemic, making Covid-19 recovery measures complementary with climate actions and focusing on enhanced monitoring and support mechanism for SDGs implementation.

Hasina said the UN should have enhanced coordination in this regard. "It's also imperative to ensure there're adequate and timely support measures to withstand emergencies and shocks to avoid any slide back."

She said scaling up preparedness for pandemic and other emergencies should be done with a priority at every level as the pandemic has upset the whole world, claiming countless lives and taking its toll on livelihoods.

The PM also mentioned that Bangladesh's achievements in MDGs were highly significant and it was recognised by the international community as a "development miracle". "Our SDGs journey buildson the successes of MDGs."

About the climate change, she said Bangladesh is the pioneer in climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts and it has recently submitted an ambitious and updated NDC.

According to the Sustainable Development Report 2021 published by the University of Cambridge, Bangladesh has improved the most on the SDG Index since 2015.

She said the government has taken up a coordinated effort involving the government, the private sector, the civil society, and other stakeholders to ensure the "whole of society engagement".

SDGs PROGRESS AWARD

On Monday, Hasina was honoured with the "SDGs Progress Award" in recognition of Bangladesh's achievements in sustainable development from 2015 to 2020.

The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and other organisations, including the Earth Institute of Columbia University and the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, jointly gave the award.

Hasina accepted the award at the 9th Annual International Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSD). She dedicated the award to the people of Bangladesh.

The PM also extended her sincere thanks to ICSD for honouring the people of Bangladesh with the award.

MEETING ON WOMEN LEADERS

Addressing the High Level Meeting on Women Leaders yesterday, Hasina said the world needed to act urgently to stop the rollback of hard-earned women empowerment due to the pandemic.

"Our hard-earned progress is at risk of rollback. We need to act urgently to stop this. For that, we must place women at the front and centre of Covid recovery," she told the meeting at the Trusteeship Council of the UN Headquarters.

She highlighted three points -- localising the Advisory Board on Gender Equality, nurturing women-led organisations and convening a leaders' summit to reinforce common agenda for gender equality -- to bring women's progress back on track.

At the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Conference, the PM pledged to raise women's participation in the workforce to 50:50 by 2041. "Recently, at the Generation Equality Forum Paris, I committed to ensuring gender equality in ICT sector by 2041. I stand by those commitments," she said.

UNGA SESSION

Yesterday, Hasina attended the opening session of the high-level general debate of the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The UNGA general debate will continue till September 27 with participation of heads of states and governments from across the world.

Hasina will deliver her speech in the high-level general debate on Friday.

PM PLANTS TREE

The Bangladesh premier on Monday planted a honey locust tree, unveiled a bench at UN gardens and dedicated these to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the occasion of his birth centenary.

She planted the deciduous tree at the North Lawn of the UN Headquarters in the morning (local time).

The PM arrived in New York on Sunday to join the UNGA for the 18th time as the head of the Bangladesh government.