Play store
Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has said the government’s efforts alone are not enough to implement the country’s development plans, stressing the need for coordinated action involving the private sector and NGOs.
He said the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are not about charity or donations but about unlocking the untapped potential of ordinary people and turning it into sustainable economic opportunities.
“A strong committee has been formed with the government, NGOs and the private sector working together,” he said, adding that fashion designers, handloom experts and grassroots coordinators are also involved. Pilot projects are being implemented in different areas to identify and correct shortcomings, he said.
Khasru made the remarks in his closing speech at a three-day conference on the SDGs at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka on Wednesday (August 12).
He stressed improving the livelihoods of grassroots artisans and cultural workers as part of efforts to achieve the core objectives of the SDGs.
The minister said a comprehensive plan had been taken to provide financial support to grassroots artisans and help them become self-reliant through proper marketing of their products. The initiative will be implemented through collaboration with the private sector and NGOs rather than relying solely on the government, he said.
Khasru said providing capital alone would not be enough to support artisans such as shital pati makers and blacksmiths in rural areas. Their products must be improved in quality and connected to international markets.
He said artisans should be given access to better raw materials and other inputs so that the value of their products can increase significantly. For example, a product worth Tk 10 could potentially be upgraded to a Tk 30 product, increasing artisans’ incomes and creating new employment opportunities.
He stressed that such initiatives must be brought under a sustainable financing and monetisation framework to ensure long-term development. Support for design and branding would also be needed to make locally produced goods suitable for marketing through global platforms such as Alibaba, Amazon and eBay.
The minister also said the government plans to include artists and cultural workers who have long been overlooked in development programmes.
A plan has been taken to establish a “theatre district” in Dhaka, where technicians and professionals involved in theatre, including lighting and makeup specialists, could operate under one umbrella, he said.
Khasru also emphasised the need to develop a sports economy, saying the sector involves a wide range of activities and could generate substantial new employment opportunities.
Citing Thailand’s “One Village, One Product” model, he said ordinary rural products could be upgraded to international standards and exported through airports and e-commerce platforms.
Bangladesh is also taking policy and budgetary initiatives to connect grassroots artisans with global markets, he said.
Khasru further claimed that the core principles of the SDGs had already been reflected in the BNP’s political commitments and development vision before the goals were formally adopted.
He said several foundations for SDG-oriented development had been established during the administrations of former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.
“If the BNP’s election manifesto can be implemented fully, Bangladesh will not only achieve the SDG targets but also move a step beyond international benchmarks in sustainable development,” he said.
He stressed that sustainable development should not be viewed merely as a policy or administrative exercise, but as a human-centred approach that should soon be reflected in practical initiatives.