Accountability, free speech, decentralised power must for SDGs attainment: experts

Speakers at a dialogue on Thursday called for accountability, freedom of speech, decentralisation of power and proper distribution of resources to attain the Sustainable Development Goals.

They, however, noted that these preconditions were not existing in the country amid growing inequality, centralisation of power, a dysfunctional parliament and lack of good governance.

The dialogue under the title ‘What types of democratic practice are suitable for achieving the SDGs?’ was organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue at a city hotel.

The UN-sponsored SDGs encompass 17 targets, including zero poverty and zero hunger, quality education, reduced inequality, climate action, and strong institutions for peace and justice.

The UN member-countries, including Bangladesh, are under obligation to materialise the goals by 2030.        

Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon said that there were ‘multiple societies’ in the country due to a flawed education system while the wealth was concentrated in the hands of a few people.

Referring to the Household Income and Expenditure Survey carried out in 2016, he said it seemed that the country was of the 5 per cent, by the 5 per cent and for the 5 per cent.

Menon, also a ruling party-led alliance MP, criticised the Jatiya Sangsad saying that there was no discussion on the poor by its members. 

‘Although the country is achieving high income growth, most people don’t have share in it,’ he said, adding that the SDGs would not work here as long as the power was exercised by few people.

Saber Hossain Chowdhury, another MP and also the standing committee chairman on the ministry of environment, forest and climate change, was also critical about the growing inequality and the concentration of wealth to few people.

He, however, differed with the common observation of Rounaq Jahan, a political scientist and distinguished fellow of the CPD, and Tofail Ahmed, another political scientist and vice-chancellor of Britannia University in Cumilla, that attainment of the SDG-16 was a most crucial challenge for Bangladesh.

Both experts highlighted the goal that referred to promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels while commenting on the key note speech delivered by Peter Niggli, a Swiss author, journalist and development policy expert.

In his key note delivery, Niggli dwelt on the prevalence of varied democratic practices and how each model could contribute differently towards achieving SDGs.

Referring to the Swiss democratic system as to how people’s participation in the democratic processes could influence and contribute to achieving the SDGs, he emphasised the need to have closer cooperation between the government and the citizens.

Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury said that without accountability and freedom of speech the SDGs could not be achieved.

Switzerland Ambassador in Bangladesh Dr. Rene Holenstein, who also attended the dialogue, highlighted  that accountability was the central piece of good governance and strengthening local governance had been a key focus of the government of Bangladesh and its development partners including Switzerland.

Professor Rehman Sobhan who chaired the dialogue identified proper allocation of resources to address poverty and democracy in the government to be among the integral parts that matter in achieving the SDGs.

He observed that Bangladesh was facing inequality as growing number of rich people were taking part in the policy-making process.

He noted that the civil society should not only act as an advocacy group but should also play an effective role as a mobilising group to attain the SDGs.    

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net