The role of journalists is very important in raising concerns and awareness on Bangladesh’s status and progress as regards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Post-2015 International Development Agenda that follows the MDGs, observed eminent economist Professor Rehman Sobhan.
Professor Sobhan was addressing a session on “Post-MDGs: Concepts, Processes and Bangladesh Context” on Sunday, 16 November 2014 as part of the Appreciation Course titled “Current National and Global Issues” organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) for the journalists of print, electronic and online media.
Around 50 young and mid-level journalists, engaged in economic, business, financial and diplomatic reporting, were selected through a competitive process to receive training on contemporary macroeconomic management issues and issues related to MDGs and post-2015 international development agendas.
Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow, CPD and Chair, Southern Voice on Post-2015 International Development Goals conducted Sunday’s session. He focused on the concept of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Post-2015 Development Agenda, the idea of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through group works and open discussion, the participants were facilitated to understand Bangladesh’s context and progress in relation to these goals.
Before handing the certificates over to the participants, Professor Rehman Sobhan expressed hope that this course would enable the participants to have a deeper understanding of the issues discussed and reflect that understanding in their reporting on issues related to the MDG and Post-2015 International Development Agenda.
The journalists’ job is to get behind the numbers, investigate the facts and follow-up on their work to inform the people, which Professor Sobhan considered crucial in a democratic society.
CPD would assess such news reports for one year and give recognition to the reporters who will have demonstrated excellent journalistic contribution, added Professor Sobhan.
Earlier on 28 and 29 October 2014, CPD Executive Director Professor Mustafizur Rahman and Research Fellow Mr Towfiqul Islam Khan conducted two other sessions titled “Structural Shifts of and Emerging Challenges for Bangladesh Economy” and ‘Data on Macroeconomic Management and Interpretation” at BRAC-CDM in Rajendrapur, Gazipur, Dhaka.
As part of the appreciation course, these sessions covered basic concepts of macroeconomic management, structural shifts in the Bangladesh economy, and emerging challenges.
