MPs role vital to implement SDGs
Habiganj, Sept. 14 (NsNewsWire) — Inclusion is at the core of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the role of the Members of Parliament is the key to ensure that no one is left behind, speakers said at a workshop on 14 September in Habiganj of Sylhet.
The two-day workshop, organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is titled ‘Role of Member of Parliament in Monitoring and Implementing SDGs’. Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, MP, Speaker of Bangladesh Parliament was the chief guest at the opening session, along with a total of 30 Members of Parliament and senior government officials of the Parliament Secretariat.
Parliamentarians have an opportunity, and a constitutional responsibility, to play a significant role in supporting and monitoring implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Agenda 2030 Declaration acknowledges the essential role of national parliaments through their enactment of legislation and adoption of budgets.
Addressing the workshop Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury said, “MPs are playing a critical role in implementing SDGs. Being elected by the people of Bangladesh, they can take forward the people centric development agenda by ensuring accountability and transparency.”
She also highlighted the initiatives of the Bangladesh government to mobilize resources for localizing the SDGs, such as the social safety net programme.
“Each of the Member of Parliament’s core functions: representation, legislative, budgetary and oversight can be harnessed effectively towards supporting the implementation and realization of the SDGs,” Dr. Shirin further added.
“As Bangladesh poises for alleviation to middle-income status, the need to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals for an inclusive and responsible society is more pressing than ever before”, said Mia Seppo, UN Resident Coordinator in her remarks.
“The workshop has two major aims: informing the parliamentarians of the new 2030 agenda and SDGs and to facilitate the development approaches and tools for the parliamentarians to monitor and implement SDGs at the local level,” Country Director of UNDP Bangladesh, Sudipto Mukerjee said.
A.S.M Feroz MP Chief Whip, Bangladesh Parliament while addressing the workshop said, “Poverty alleviation is essential to achieve the SDGs. We also need to focus on reducing inequality from our society.”
Md. Fazle Rabbi Miah, MP, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament stressed the importance on public private partnership in achieving SDGs.
Abul Kalam Azad, Chief Coordinator for SDGs Affairs in the Prime Minister’s Office presented the ‘SDG Framework and role of parliamentarians in monitoring and implementing the SDGs’
Dr. Md. Abdur Rob Howlader Senior Secretary, Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat highlighted the importance of establishing Parliamentary mechanisms like Standing Committee in monitoring SDGs.