The Citizen’s Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh will hold a day-long conference titled “Citizen’s Conference on SDGs in Bangladesh 2017” in the capital’s Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) on Wednesday 6 December, 2017. The Conference is expected to be attended by high-level government officials as well as representatives of partner organisations, vulnerable groups of the society, civil society members, private sector professionals, and youths.
This was announced at a media briefing in Dhaka on 3 December 2017. The Platform’s Convenor Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya; Coordinator Ms Anisatul Fatema Yousuf; Core Group Members – Ms Shaheen Anam and Ms Rasheda K Chowdhury; and Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Country Director, The Hunger Project – Bangladesh, a partner organisation of the Platform; were present among others at the press briefing.
Dr Bhattacharya in his presentation mentioned three main objectives of the Conference. These are: to strengthen the voice of the marginalised communities in the SDG implementation, to make contribution of the non-state actors in delivery of SDGs visible, to explore further opportunities for government and non-government partnership in the development process.
He said that the expected outcomes of the day-long event will be enhanced awareness about the need to include marginalised communities and groups in the SDG process, strengthened bonding and coordination among the non-state actors including private sector in the context of the SDGs, bolstered development partnership between the government and NGOs, and a wider partnership among the government, NGOs and the private sector towards achieving the SDGs in Bangladesh.
The Conference will witness through launching of a research report titled “Independent Review Report on State of SDGs Implementation: Interpreting Leave No One Behind in the context of Bangladesh”, open discussion on challenges of SDGs delivery in Bangladesh, various issue-based sessions, release of an inspirational film on “No One to be Left Behind in Bangladesh”, an exhibition highlighting the role of the NGOs in implementing the SDGs, and a cultural function depicting the rich diversity of Bangladesh. The Conference will also adopt a Citizen’s Declaration 2017 putting forward some suggestions and demands.