Experts say the COVID-19 pandemic has dashed hopes of achieving the UN’s 2030 agenda to eradicate poverty through Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).   COVID-19 has hit Bangladesh’s economy hard and threatens to derail the country’s impressive achievements in poverty reduction.

Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Ambassador Rabab Fatima has urged the development and trading partner countries to demonstrate responsible business conduct and to adopt a humane approach to protect the rights and livelihoods of the migrants and the migrant workers during the COVID crisis.   “The gains we had made in poverty eradication and women’s empowerment are at serious risk. This is not the time for economic and trade protectionism; rather this is the time for amplifying global solidarity,” she said.   The PR made the remarks while addressing a virtual side event of the High Level Political Forum entitled “Preserving and Advancing Global Progress on Eradicating Poverty: Responding to the COVID 19 Crisis” hosted by the Government of Canada recently in New York.     Ambassador Fatima mentioned that export earnings and remittances are critical for the poverty eradication in the developing countries, said a media release on Saturday.   Reflecting that bold, resolute, people-centric, and inclusive policies adopted by the Government of Sheikh Hasina had played a vital role in pulling millions of people out of poverty in Bangladesh, Ambassador Fatima shared with the participants different poverty reduction strategies such as expanded social safety net for the vulnerable people, financial inclusion, education of women and youth, gender equality, use of ICT and digitalization, strong disaster risk reduction programmes, and resilience building against climate change impacts.   Minister of Children, Family and Social Development of Canada Ahmed Hussen addressed the event that facilitated a lively dialogue with different countries and members of Canada’s National Poverty Advisory Council on lessons learned on the intersecting topics of poverty reduction and ‘restart and recovery’ efforts in the face of COVID-19, and opportunities for continuing progress on SDG 1: No Poverty.   The Minister reiterated Canada’s commitment to global poverty eradication and its support to the vulnerable developing countries such as LDCs and SIDS particularly in their resilience building and the development of the private sector including the MSMEs.   Stating that Bangladesh’s SDG implementation and poverty eradication plans are likely to suffer setbacks from the pandemic, Ambassador Fatima reiterated that poverty eradication would be the cornerstone of Bangladesh’s post COVID recovery plans.   She urged the development partners, multilateral donors and the private sector to come forward to support developing countries in sustaining and building productive capacity, growth of resilient infrastructure, diversification of the economies, and job creation.   She also underscored the need for separate stimulus packages and innovative support measures for the graduating LDCs such as Bangladesh to preserve their gains in poverty eradication and prevent a slide back.   Catherine Adam, Senior Associate Deputy Minister, Strategic and Service Policy Branch Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) warned the participants of the widening inequalities induced by the COVID 19 pandemic and highlighted the importance of putting in place inclusive systems. Several speakers lauded Bangladesh for attaining rapid poverty eradication with the help of pragmatic measures.