Execution of BNP's manifesto will accomplish SDGs: Finance Minister

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has said that what is incorporated in BNP's election manifesto is more than what the SDGs have. If the manifesto is implemented 100 percent, the SDGs will naturally be achieved. Long before the United Nations established the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the core outline of BNP's political commitment and development philosophy had already integrated those principles.

He made these remarks today, Wednesday, in his closing address at a three-day SDG conference held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center.

He said many key foundations conducive to the SDGs were established during the tenures of the late President Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia. If BNP's current election manifesto can be fully implemented, it will not only meet the set SDG targets but also enable Bangladesh to surpass international indicators for sustainable development.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury stressed the importance of improving the living standards of grassroots artisans and cultural workers to achieve the core objectives of the SDGs. He mentioned that a comprehensive plan has been adopted to make local artisans self-reliant by providing financial assistance and ensuring proper marketing of their products. This massive effort will be executed by involving the private sector and NGOs, rather than relying solely on the government.

He expressed strong optimism that 100 percent implementation of BNP's election manifesto would allow the country to go beyond the defined SDG targets.

The minister added that providing capital alone to rural artisans—such as shitalpati weavers or blacksmiths—is not enough; measures must be taken to enhance product quality and gain access to global markets. To achieve this, opportunities must be created for them to purchase better raw materials and inputs. Additionally, with support in design and branding, their products must be made suitable for marketing on international platforms like Alibaba, Amazon, or eBay. This would elevate the value of a product from 10 taka to 30 taka, thereby boosting the income of artisans and creating new jobs in the country. He noted that no development can be sustainable unless such initiatives are integrated into a self-sustaining financing process or monetization model.

Announcing plans to include artists and cultural workers—who have long been neglected in development planning—Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury added that steps are being taken to establish a "Theater District." Under this initiative, all artisans associated with theater, including lighting and makeup artists, will be brought under one roof at a designated location in Dhaka.

Emphasizing the creation of a "sports economy," he stated that sports involve multidimensional sectors that can create vast new employment opportunities. Citing international models like Thailand, he explained that through their "One Village One Product" concept, the quality of ordinary rural products is enhanced and then exported via international airports or e-commerce. In Bangladesh as well, initiatives for policy support and budget allocation have been undertaken to connect rural artisans with this global market.

Noting that government efforts alone are insufficient to implement these development plans, the minister said that a powerful committee combining the government, NGOs, and the private sector has been formed. Fashion designers, weaving experts, and field-level coordinators are working collaboratively within this committee. Pilot projects are being conducted across various locations to identify and correct shortcomings. Humane initiatives have been taken from the highest level of government to improve the standard of living for every social class and ensure their active participation. Special emphasis is also being placed on guaranteeing the rights and priorities of persons with disabilities in every government decision and action.

The Finance and Planning Minister further stressed that the SDGs are not a matter of charity or donation, but rather a process to harness the latent potential of ordinary people.

Recalling previous actions of the BNP government, he mentioned that numerous sustainable development works were accomplished during the tenures of late President Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia. If the BNP's current political manifesto is fully implemented, Bangladesh will be able to go one step further than the targets set by the international SDGs. He concluded that this is not merely a matter of policy or paper-and-pen; rather, it is backed by a firm humane vision that is set to be reflected very soon.