State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Wednesday said achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires strong local leadership and the meaningful participation of women in decision-making.
"Initiatives that empower young women today are laying the foundation for a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient Bangladesh tomorrow," she said.
The State Minister joined senior government officials, United Nations representatives, development partners, educators, youth leaders, and civil society organisations at a discussion titled "Building a Model for SDG Localisation: SDG 5 and SDG 16," organised by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Bangladesh at a hotel in Dhaka.
The national workshop forms part of the Joint Programme, "Enhancing Women's Political Leadership through SDG 5 and SDG 16 Localisation in Bangladesh," implemented by UNOPS in coordination with UN Women and in partnership with Naripokkho, with support from the Joint SDG Fund.
Building on successful implementation across Dhaka, Chattogram, and Rajshahi, the dissemination workshop showcased key findings, lessons learned, and practical recommendations from the localised SDG model.
Participants also heard inspiring stories from young women leaders, students, mentors, and representatives of educational institutions who have contributed to advancing women's leadership and strengthening inclusive governance at the local level.
UNOPS Bangladesh and Bhutan Country Manager Sudhir Muralidharan delivered the welcome remarks, while UN Women Bangladesh Deputy Country Representative Navanita Sinha highlighted the importance of partnerships in accelerating progress on SDG 5 and SDG 16.
Naripokkho Executive Member Maheen Sultan presented the SDG localisation model.
Nasreen Jahan, Member (Secretary) of the Socio-Economic Infrastructure Division of the Bangladesh Planning Commission, attended the event as the special guest.
