Corporate social responsibility funds can help achieving SDGs: Planning minister 

Planning Minister MA Manan on Monday said the government is committed to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is closely monitoring the progress in attaining these.

"The government has several plans for 5 years, 10 years, 20 years and even for 100 years – all aligned with the SDGs. The corporate social responsibility [CSR] funds can help in achieving the SDGs," he said. 

Mannan was speaking as the chief guest at the publication ceremony of the CSR report, published by the CSR Centre at an event in Dhaka. 

Experts who spoke at the event emphasised allocating CSR funds to achieve SDGs, especially for education and health services in remote areas of the country.

Charlotta Schlyter, the high commissioner of Sweden in Bangladesh, recommended ensuring human rights, democracy, transparency, and rule of law to eliminate corruption.

"Gender parity may ensure health, education and empowerment for all people," she said and emphasised that the government address these issues immediately.

Farzana Chowdhury, managing director of Green Delta Life Insurance Company and member of the CSR Centre Board of Trustees, said, the government, private sector and NGOs took several initiatives and activities to achieve SDGs, and all these initiatives are helping to ensure education and human development.

She called for universal insurance coverage in the country.

Korvi Rakshand, founder of Jaago Foundation, said, most of the people and companies are spending their allocated CSR funds in Dhaka and other large cities.

He suggested providing quality education and health services in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), the tea gardens in Sylhet and other remote areas of the country.

Planning Minister Mannan also said that Bangladesh has achieved substantial development in recent years in regards to providing access to electricity, roads, education and healthcare services.

Among others, Farook Sobhan, chairman of the CSR Centre Board of Trustees and Shahamin S Zaman, CEO of CSR Centre, also spoke at the event.