DHAKA: State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam Wednesday said framing of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) should be based on values and principles like equity, inclusion, common but differentiated responsibility, respective capacities and so on.

The ruling Awami League lawmaker made the observation while addressing a seminar on ‘Contemporary Development Debate: Bangladesh in the Global Context’ at BIISS Auditorium as chief guest.

Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organized the seminar.            

The minister observed that one of the main outcomes of the Rio+20 Conference was the agreement by the member States to launch a process to develop a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will build upon the Millennium Development Goals and converge with the post 2015 development agenda.

He also mentioned that in 1999, the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined the world leaders in adopting the landmark of Millennium Declaration at the UN.

Subsequently, the premier and her government pledged to dovetail the MDGs within Bangladesh’s national planning processes and attainment of some of the key MDGs, attributed to the government’s commitment and early action, Alam added.

The government high officials, members of diplomatic corps as well as representatives from development partner organizations participated in the open discussion session.

Speakers on the seminar highlighted various aspects related to the post-MDG agenda and sustainability issues.

BDST: 1845 HRS, FEB 05, 2014