Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina acknowledges progress on multiple SDGs at UNGA 78

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh has delivered a powerful speech at the 78th UN General Assembly, while highlighting the country’s remarkable achievements and contributions to the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since 2009, Bangladesh has made significant progress in reducing poverty, moving from a lower-middle-income country to a middle-income one. The rates of extreme poverty and poverty have significantly decreased, demonstrating the success of efforts to reduce poverty and their alignment with SDGs 1: No Poverty and 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.

Bangladesh is actively addressing the global climate change crisis as well. Establishing the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund in 2009, funded with 480 million US$ from domestic resources, demonstrates the nation’s commitment to SDG 13: Climate Action. Bangladesh also emphasised the urgent need to operationalise loss and damage funds during the COP 27 climate conference. In line with SDG 5: Gender Equality, Bangladesh is dedicated to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. Bangladesh has made considerable progress since more than half of the 23 million students who get stipends, scholarships, and grants are female.

Bangladesh is pursuing a vision of becoming a high-income, poverty-free, and fully developed nation through technology and innovation. The ‘smart Bangladesh’ initiative, part of the Vision 2041 program, aligns with SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.