UNB, Dhaka :
Speakers at a roundtable discussion on Saturday urged the government and private sectors to ensure economic, educational, healthcare and human rights of the backward and vulnerable people for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
They underscored the need for a periodical evaluation of the efforts and achievements of the public and private organisations in the fields of SDGs and urged the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to monitor and assess as to whether human rights requirements of SDGs are being fulfilled properly.
The speakers also called on the government to remove the economic discrimination for implementing the goals successfully.
The roundtable discussion styled “Sustainable Development Goal and Human Rights” was held at East West Media Group Limited (EWMGL) conference room at Bashundhara residential area in the capital on Saturday.
The Daily Sun and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) jointly organised the roundtable discussion. Private television channel News24 joined the programme as media partner.
Presided over by NHRC Chairman Kazi Reazul Hoque, the discussion was addressed, among others, by Abul Kalam Azad, chief coordinator for SDG affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office.
“We’ve achieved the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) quite easily, but it will not be possible to earn the SDGs so easily,” said Abul Kalam Azad speaking on the occasion, adding that all NGOs and other private bodies should inform the government of their work plan.
He said the government is going ahead with well plans as well as the Vision-2021, the 2030 Agenda for SDGs and developed country by 2041.
“The government believes that it cannot develop the country leaving any section of people behind. So, participation of all people in the government’s development venture is needed,” he said.
NHRC Chairman Kazi Reazul Hoque said the human rights are very important in
achieving the SDGs as the 152 targets out of SDG’s 169 targets are related with the human rights. It is not possible to earn the goals for only the government alone as it is a big thing.
Welcoming the government’s positive attitude, the NHRC chairman said the government is taking the views of all to formulate any law and any activities with importance.
Research and Development Collective Chairperson Prof Mesbah Kamal called upon NHRC to monitor the human rights situation which is an important indicator of SDGs. He said poverty should be alleviated and rights of minority, indigenous and tribal people be ensured in this regard.
Planning Commission Member for General Economic Division Dr Shamsul Alam said income of 40 percent bottom-level people is increasing gradually. Describing various steps, he said the government has taken measures to increase employment and alleviate poverty to achieve SDGs.
Criticising inappropriate steps of the authorities of public and private organisations causing human rights violations, M Nazrul Islam of NHRC said 800 boilers out of 5,500 at factories across the country are reportedly operating beyond their expiry dates, risking lives of workers.
Secretary of Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Nasima Begum NDC, DG of Economic Affairs Wing of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nahida Sobhan, NHRCB full-time Member Md Nazrul Islam, members Prof Akhtar Hussain, Prof Meghna Guhathakurta and Nurun Naher Osmani, former member Aroma Dutta, the Daily Sun Editor Enamul Hoque Chowdhury and Executive Editor Shiabur Rahman Shihab, BGMEA Senior Vice-president Faruque Hassan, rights activist Sanjeeb Drong, UNDP chief technical adviser of human rights programme Sharmeela Rassool and Ain O Salish Kendra representative Subarna Dhar, among others, spoke at the event.
Speakers at a roundtable discussion on Saturday urged the government and private sectors to ensure economic, educational, healthcare and human rights of the backward and vulnerable people for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
They underscored the need for a periodical evaluation of the efforts and achievements of the public and private organisations in the fields of SDGs and urged the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to monitor and assess as to whether human rights requirements of SDGs are being fulfilled properly.
The speakers also called on the government to remove the economic discrimination for implementing the goals successfully.
The roundtable discussion styled “Sustainable Development Goal and Human Rights” was held at East West Media Group Limited (EWMGL) conference room at Bashundhara residential area in the capital on Saturday.
The Daily Sun and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) jointly organised the roundtable discussion. Private television channel News24 joined the programme as media partner.
Presided over by NHRC Chairman Kazi Reazul Hoque, the discussion was addressed, among others, by Abul Kalam Azad, chief coordinator for SDG affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office.
“We’ve achieved the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) quite easily, but it will not be possible to earn the SDGs so easily,” said Abul Kalam Azad speaking on the occasion, adding that all NGOs and other private bodies should inform the government of their work plan.
He said the government is going ahead with well plans as well as the Vision-2021, the 2030 Agenda for SDGs and developed country by 2041.
“The government believes that it cannot develop the country leaving any section of people behind. So, participation of all people in the government’s development venture is needed,” he said.
NHRC Chairman Kazi Reazul Hoque said the human rights are very important in
achieving the SDGs as the 152 targets out of SDG’s 169 targets are related with the human rights. It is not possible to earn the goals for only the government alone as it is a big thing.
Welcoming the government’s positive attitude, the NHRC chairman said the government is taking the views of all to formulate any law and any activities with importance.
Research and Development Collective Chairperson Prof Mesbah Kamal called upon NHRC to monitor the human rights situation which is an important indicator of SDGs. He said poverty should be alleviated and rights of minority, indigenous and tribal people be ensured in this regard.
Planning Commission Member for General Economic Division Dr Shamsul Alam said income of 40 percent bottom-level people is increasing gradually. Describing various steps, he said the government has taken measures to increase employment and alleviate poverty to achieve SDGs.
Criticising inappropriate steps of the authorities of public and private organisations causing human rights violations, M Nazrul Islam of NHRC said 800 boilers out of 5,500 at factories across the country are reportedly operating beyond their expiry dates, risking lives of workers.
Secretary of Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Nasima Begum NDC, DG of Economic Affairs Wing of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nahida Sobhan, NHRCB full-time Member Md Nazrul Islam, members Prof Akhtar Hussain, Prof Meghna Guhathakurta and Nurun Naher Osmani, former member Aroma Dutta, the Daily Sun Editor Enamul Hoque Chowdhury and Executive Editor Shiabur Rahman Shihab, BGMEA Senior Vice-president Faruque Hassan, rights activist Sanjeeb Drong, UNDP chief technical adviser of human rights programme Sharmeela Rassool and Ain O Salish Kendra representative Subarna Dhar, among others, spoke at the event.
