Call for strengthening capacity building of govt offices to complete projects timely

Speakers have underscored the need for strengthening capacity building of different ministries and departments to implement all kinds of projects in due time to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

They came up with the call at a workshop titled, "Generating Gender Responsive Environmental data in focusing to SDGs" at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital on Monday.

Noted economist Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said, "There are many policies and programmes to tackle the impact of climate change and achieve SDGs but there is no proper implementation of projects due to lack of coordination among ministries and departments."

He, however, lamented that the officials concerned don't work properly to implement the projects.

Dr Kholiquzzaman, also the chairman of Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation, said the international organisations don't provide more than $20-22 million dollar to tackle climate impacts. There are various barriers to getting the funds.

"Now Bangladesh needs around $928 billion dollar to achieve SDGs by 2030. But the international agencies don't provide enough funds to Bangladesh."

Programme Specialist on Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change and Humanitarian Actions at UN Women, Dilruba Haider, said Bangladesh needs the base of data to perform well in any index of SDGs.

Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics Director Zia Uddin said, "We have to collect data for 109 indexes out of 231 of SDGs’ indicators. We are trying to do the best."

Dr Sheikh Muslima Moon, additional director of the Department of Women Affairs under the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, said, "We have to bring the country's women, who have fallen behind, to the frontline to achieve SDGs. So, funds in all sectors, especially in education, should be increased."

Deputy Director of SDG Cell under Statistics and Informatics Division of the Ministry of Planning, Aklima Khatun, said they were working hard to tackle all challenges for national perspectives.

Md Rafiqul Islam, project director of Strengthening Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Statistics (ECDS) under BBS, gave the welcome speech.

Officials of government and non-governmental organisations and journalists, among others, attended the workshop.