Zahurul Alam :
Bangladesh has achieved considerable success in attaining the MDGs within stipulated time frame. Some of the goals have been achieved even before the targeted date. In its endeavor to attain decent outcome in all areas of the global program Bangladesh has linked the MDG challenges with ‘Vision 2021’. Such approach has produced expected results. Some of the goals have been achieved by the country sufficiently ahead of the deadline owing to concerted efforts, good policies and better implementation.
One of the remarkable achievements of Bangladesh is in poverty alleviation. The country brought down poverty to 26.2 percent by 2013 against MDG targetedlevel of reducing that to 29 percent by 2015. This ratio decreased further to 24.8 percent in 2015 compared to 31.5 percent in 2010. Notably, the share of people under the poverty line was 40 and 48.9 percent, respectively in 2005 and 2000, and 56.7 percent in 1991. Simultaneously, the share of people living in extreme poverty has reduced from 13.1 percent in 2010 to around 6 percent in 2015. In reducing infant mortality and improving maternal health, the country achieved unprecedented success. Inclusive growth strategy prompted accelerated development. The country is in the process of structural transformation, in favor of manufacturing and service sectors, typical for a rapidly growing economy. While eradication of poverty per se may not take many years for Bangladesh, complete freedom from hunger may take longer time. Bangladesh may attain such hunger-free society by the terminal year of the SDGs. The aim of Bangladesh becoming a member of high income country by 2040, envisioned in ‘Vision 2041’ depends on the ability of the country to maintain sustainability of development through sustained political stability, good governance and inclusive and coherent developmental approach based on greater political and social inclusiveness and proactive and positive participation at all levels. There are optimisms of Bangladesh exceeding the development levels of Singapore and Australia by 2040, which understandably, is dependent on many internal and external factors. The recently published GOB report: ‘Millennium Development Goals: Bangladesh Progress Report 2015’ admits that despite meeting most of the MDGs, Bangladesh still misses some indicators, including employment generation, adult literacy and the elimination of hunger and poverty.
Most appreciable aspect of MDG implementation in Bangladesh remains in its ability to materialize the agenda mostly by using domestic resources. The ‘MDG Bangladesh Country Report 2015’ suggests that despite resource constraints, Bangladesh continued to remain on the right track throughout the implementation process. Notably, the MDG implementation cost amounted to more than USD 78 billion over 2011-2015, an average annual requirement of around USD 15.6 billion. With an annual ODA of mere 1.74 billion, the country had to mobilize resources from domestic sources, which Bangladesh did and attained considerable achievements in seven of the 8 MDG goals by the end of the terminal year (2015), including poverty alleviation, food security, gender equality, child mortality, maternal mortality and prevention of HIV and other diseases. This unprecedented capacity of the nation has prompted instant positive response from the government regarding SDG implementation (2016-2030), which is reflected in recent remarks made by the Prime Minister. Sheikh Hasina has declared Bangladesh’s firm determination and capacity to implement the SDGs. Hasina reiterated that the country will develop sustainably and confidently by making optimum use of its own resources and by addressing all developmental challenges. Bangladesh would go ahead with specific plans and programs to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) like the Millennium Development Goals.
Most remarkable achievements that the country achieved in MDGs are those in gender parity up to secondary education, ensuring greater women participation in politics (10thposition among 142 countries), reducing infant and child mortality rate, immunization, etc. In 1990 the under-five mortality rate was 151 per 1000 live births that reduced to only 41, two years ahead of the MDG terminal date. In the case of infant mortality, the ratios were 94 and 32 during the same period. However, environmental issues, including forestation and access to safe water for all continued to remain as major challenges during the MDG period, due to salinity and arsenic prevalence.
As is seen from the table, across 6 thematic areas, the MDGs had 8 goals, while the SDGs have 17 goals across nine thematic areas. In terms of equality, the SDGs have spelt out the necessity of reducing inequalities among countries, which was confined only within gender equality in the MDGs. Water and sanitation, energy, decent work, infrastructure, sustainability and governance are other important broad thematic areas that are provided greater importance in the SDGs. Under these thematic areas the new global agenda has 11 goals. These goals in brief suggest for i) ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all; ii) promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth; iii) full and productive employment and decent work for all; iv) ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all; v) building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation; vi) reducing inequality within and among countries; vii) making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable; viii) ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns; ix) taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts; x) conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development; xi) protecting, restoring and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainable management of forests, combating desertification, halting and reversing land degradation and biodiversity loss; and xii) promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
Above comparison and brief analysis demonstrate that the SDGs in real sense are a continuation of the MDGs. The inherent meaningand essence of both sets of goals do not have fundamental discrepancies. In broad term and from broader developmental perspective, both have the ultimate objective of improving the living standards of the people by ensuring sustained wellbeing, equality and human rights in place. Such affiliation, attachment and continuation of the development agendas over long periods are indicative of serious intention to materialize the objectives initiated in 2000 with the inception of the MDGs.
Results oriented approach, clearly defined timeframe and monitoring criteria are the strengths of both sets of agenda. At the same time there are serious deficiencies in measuring the achievements. The measurement tools and methods had not always been beyond question in case of the MDGs. It is no less true in case of the SDGs. Such as, access to clean water, or education or even sanitation. The qualitative aspects of these goals would remain beyond measurement due to the lack of measurement tools, as well as differences in socio-economic and environmental conditions in different countries. The quality of education may not seem to be appropriate from some perspective, while from the other those may be quite adequate. Irrespective of the outcome, the countries must identify acceptable standards and proceed with the implementation of goals accordingly. That approach must bring in positive outcome at least to a minimum level. (To be continued)
