State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat on Thursday put emphasis on taking customized communication tools and strategies for involving marginalized people in development aiming to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
"Communication is something very tricky and it's not easy . . . whatever we discuss in Dhaka and the way we think to communicate may not work in rural Bangladesh. It is very important to understand the local context and the ground reality," he said.
The state minister was addressing a function titled 'United in Progress: Sharing the National SDGs Communications Strategy and Action Plan' at The Westin Dhaka in the city.
In the landmark event, the SDG Affairs Unit of the Prime Minister’s Office, in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), presented the First National SDGs Communications Strategy and Action Plan (NSCSAP) for 2024-2030.
In presenting the final draft of this pioneering strategy to key stakeholders, Bangladesh reaffirmed its commitment to enhance awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and foster localization, fulfilling Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's 78th UN General Assembly pledge in September 2023.
While analyzing the comprehensive communication strategy (NSCSAP) designed to localize the SDGs ensuring the engagement of every citizen in the development process by raising awareness, Arafat said spending money for communication will not bring any result if it does not fit to the local context.
So, he said, the communication tools and strategy should be customized to fit into the local context. The communication strategy should be designed in such a way that would create awareness as well as interest among the target audience about its message and motivate them to accept it, he added.
In this context, the state minister said, the NSCSAP is a pioneering roadmap designed to localize the SDGs, ensuring that every citizen, irrespective of their location, is aware of and engaged in the development process.
Terming the strategy as both timely and crucial, he said, "It is a manifestation of our commitment to leave no one behind".
The state minister said his ministry has a crucial role in implementing this strategy.
"Our ministry bridges the government's policies and the people's understanding and participation. By leveraging our resources, networks and platforms, we aim to ensure that the SDG messages reach every corner of Bangladesh - from urban centres to the most remote villages," he added.
Pointing that the success of the country's SDG agenda relies heavily on the awareness and people's participation, Arafat said an informed and engaged citizenry is the bedrock of sustainable development.
Highlighting the government achievements in attaining the SDGs, he said, "Since the inception of Agenda 2030, Bangladesh has steadfastly pursued the achievement of the SDGs".
"Under the visionary leadership of our Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, we have integrated the SDGs into our national planning frameworks, including the Eighth Five-Year Plan (2021-2025)," Arafat said.
This integration is not just a policy decision but a testament to the nation's commitment to sustainable and inclusive development, he added.
Principal Coordinator for SDG Affairs at the PMO Md Akhter Hossain, Member (secretary) of the General Economics Division at the Bangladesh Planning Commission Dr Md Kawser Ahmed and UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis spoke at the event as special guests.
UNOPS Country Manager Sudhir Muralidharan delivered welcome address at the function while Additional Secretary (SDGs) Affairs) at the PMO Mohd. Monirul Islam and Communications Senior Officer of UNOPS Nusrat Amin presented the final draft of the strategy (NSCSAP).
An open discussion on the strategy was held while participants from different government offices and representatives from NGOs, INGOs and business entities gave their opinions to help finalize the strategy.