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Bangladesh at the crossroads of sustainable progress
In July 2025, the United Nations released its 'Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025', offering a sobering and urgent assessment of the global effort to meet the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The report reveals that only 35 per cent of the 169 SDG targets are on track or making moder
Bangladesh at the crossroads of sustainable progress
Matiur Rahman
Published :
Jul 25, 2025 22:26
Updated :
Jul 25, 2025 22:26
In July 2025, the United Nations released its 'Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025', offering a sobering and urgent assessment of the global effort to meet the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The report reveals that only 35 per cent of the 169 SDG targets are on track or making moderate progress, while nearly half are either stagnating or progressing too slowly, and an alarming 18 per cent are regressing.
Described by UN Secretary-General António Guterres as a "global development emergency," the report calls for unprecedented political will, multilateral action, and investment to avert the unraveling of the SDG framework. For Bangladesh-a country often highlighted as a model of development in the Global South-the report serves not only as a global reckoning but also as a mirror reflecting its complex and uneven journey toward sustainable development.
Bangladesh's progress since adopting the SDGs in 2015 has been both visible and significant. Child mortality rates have declined, girls' access to education has improved, rural electrification has expanded, and innovative social programs-many led by NGOs and supported by development partners-have deepened inclusion.
However, the 2025 SDG report makes clear that global turbulence from climate change and pandemics to economic shocks and geopolitical crises is putting even the most resilient development models under strain. Bangladesh is no exception. The country stands at a critical inflexion point: either accelerate progress through systemic reform and investment, or risk undoing decades of social and economic gains.
The report identifies six "critical transitions" where the SDG agenda must now be concentrated: food systems, energy access, digital connectivity, education, employment and social protection, and climate-biodiversity action. These are not abstract global goals, but rather deeply relevant to the Bangladeshi context. Each sector reveals both the strides already made and the vulnerabilities yet to be addressed.
In the realm of food systems, Bangladesh presents a story of contrasts. On one hand, the country has achieved near self-sufficiency in rice production, bolstered by widespread agricultural mechanisation and rural microfinance. On the other hand, malnutrition remains stubbornly high. According to the report, nearly one in eleven people globally experienced hunger in 2023, while over two billion faced moderate to severe food insecurity.
Bangladesh mirrors this pattern. Despite national food availability, undernutrition persists due to poor dietary diversity, food price volatility, and the fragile status of small-scale producers. These producers-who dominate the agricultural sector-often earn less than $500 annually, lack formal land rights, and have limited access to credit, insurance, and modern farming technologies.
The country's agricultural orientation index remains low relative to its GDP contribution, echoing the global finding that despite record-high public agricultural investment, resources are not translating into equitable or sustainable outcomes. Structural reform in rural agrifood systems, support for women farmers, and investments in value chains and cold storage infrastructure are now urgent.
On energy access, the picture is again mixed. Electrification in Bangladesh has expanded significantly, reaching over 96 per cent of the population. The country has successfully scaled solar home systems in off-grid areas, a notable achievement in South Asia. However, the clean cooking agenda lags far behind. The continued use of biomass and inefficient stoves in rural areas contributes to indoor air pollution, health risks, and deforestation.
The UN report highlights that while access to electricity has improved globally, the transition to affordable, renewable, and clean energy is progressing too slowly. In Bangladesh, the share of renewables in the energy mix is under 5 per cent, and fossil-fuel-based energy-particularly coal and imported LNG-remains dominant.
Energy subsidies are not aligned with long-term sustainability, and green financing mechanisms are still in their early stages of development. To meet SDG 7, Bangladesh must commit to a deeper energy transition through expanded investment in decentralised solar grids, incentives for green entrepreneurship, and policies that prioritise energy justice for low-income and climate-vulnerable communities.
In digital inclusion, Bangladesh has made commendable progress. With the rise of "Digital Bangladesh" as a national vision, internet penetration has surpassed 70 per cent. E-governance, mobile banking, and online education platforms have experienced rapid expansion, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the digital divide remains stark. Rural areas continue to suffer from poor connectivity and limited access to devices.
Women, especially in conservative and low-income households, face barriers to digital access, usage, and literacy. The UN report notes that while global internet usage increased from 40 per cent in 2015 to 68 per cent in 2024, inequalities in digital access persist. In Bangladesh, digital progress risks reproducing pre-existing inequalities unless proactively addressed through targeted policy. Without addressing digital illiteracy, affordability, cyber-security risks, and gender bias, the country will not harness the transformative power of technology for inclusive development.
Education has long been a development stronghold in Bangladesh. The country has achieved near gender parity in school enrollment and has invested significantly in stipend programs and the distribution of textbooks. Yet, the SDG report highlights a growing global concern: education quality is stagnating.
In Bangladesh, the problem is acute. Learning outcomes in reading and numeracy remain low, and dropout rates increase sharply at the secondary level, especially among girls. COVID-19 disrupted learning trajectories, particularly for children from rural and urban low-income backgrounds who lacked access to online learning.
The teacher-student ratio remains sub-optimal, and public investment in secondary and vocational education is insufficient to meet future labour market demands. The education system must now shift its focus from access to quality, investing in teacher training, curriculum modernisation, and school safety, while also prioritising digital literacy and climate education.
Employment and social protection are perhaps the most pressing challenges. The UN report warns that over 800 million people globally remain trapped in extreme poverty, and 3.8 billion are without any form of social protection. In Bangladesh, despite progress in employment generation in the garment and construction sectors, the labour market remains dominated by informality, precarity, and gendered segmentation. Youth unemployment, underemployment, and skill mismatches are growing problems.
Only a small fraction of the workforce is covered by pensions, health insurance, or unemployment benefits. Social protection programmes exist-such as old age allowances, widow pensions, and disability stipends-but they are fragmented, poorly coordinated, and vulnerable to political manipulation. The gender gap in access is significant.
According to the report, globally, only 9.7 per cent of people in low-income countries are covered by social protection. For Bangladesh, expanding the coverage, adequacy, and digital delivery of social protection is essential. This will require integrating national ID systems, mobile payments, and robust grievance redress mechanisms to build trust and reduce leakage.
Climate change and biodiversity loss represent the most critical existential threats to Bangladesh. The country's geographic location makes it one of the most climate-vulnerable nations globally. Cyclones, floods, river erosion, sea-level rise, and salinity intrusion are already displacing thousands of people annually and undermining livelihoods.
The 'SDG Report 2025' Global climate finance remains fragmented and insufficient. Despite pledges, disbursements to countries like Bangladesh are slow, bureaucratic, and conditional. Loss and damage negotiations have yielded some commitments at the international level; however, translating these commitments into tangible support for affected communities in Bangladesh remains pending. SDGs 13 and 15 will remain unattainable without climate justice and scaled-up adaptation finance.
One of the most profound takeaways from the UN report is the data crisis. Monitoring SDG progress depends on reliable, timely, and disaggregated data. Yet, as the report notes, statistical systems in many countries remain underfunded and fragmented. The abrupt termination of the USAID-supported Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) in early 2025 exposes the fragility of global data systems.
For Bangladesh, this means losing key data on family planning, child nutrition, gender-based violence, and slum populations-data that inform national budgeting, policy design, and international benchmarking. Without a national investment in data sovereignty-through stronger statistical institutions, interoperable data platforms, and partnerships with academia and civil society-Bangladesh will be flying blind into the final years of the SDGs.
Institutionally, the governance landscape is increasingly recognised as a key determinant of SDG delivery. SDG 16-on peace, justice, and strong institutions-remains one of the least funded and least prioritised goals, globally and in Bangladesh. Yet its relevance is paramount. Transparent public financial management, inclusive planning, judicial independence, press freedom, and civic space are all necessary to ensure that development is democratic and accountable.
The SDG report calls for "urgent multilateralism"-a new social contract that places equity and participation at the heart of development. For Bangladesh, this means investing in local government capacity, opening political space for youth and civil society, and strengthening public service delivery mechanisms.
As the world moves toward 2030, the message from the United Nations is clear: the SDG framework remains within reach, but only if action is taken decisively and immediately. The final five years to 2030 are not merely a countdown-they are a choice. Bangladesh can choose to accelerate toward justice, resilience, and sustainability. Or, it can remain trapped in a cycle of incrementalism and vulnerability. The future is still unwritten-but time is running out.
Dr Matiur Rahman is a researcher and development professional.
Matiur Rahman
Published :
Jul 25, 2025 22:26
Updated :
Jul 25, 2025 22:26
In July 2025, the United Nations released its 'Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025', offering a sobering and urgent assessment of the global effort to meet the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The report reveals that only 35 per cent of the 169 SDG targets are on track or making moderate progress, while nearly half are either stagnating or progressing too slowly, and an alarming 18 per cent are regressing.
Described by UN Secretary-General António Guterres as a "global development emergency," the report calls for unprecedented political will, multilateral action, and investment to avert the unraveling of the SDG framework. For Bangladesh-a country often highlighted as a model of development in the Global South-the report serves not only as a global reckoning but also as a mirror reflecting its complex and uneven journey toward sustainable development.
Bangladesh's progress since adopting the SDGs in 2015 has been both visible and significant. Child mortality rates have declined, girls' access to education has improved, rural electrification has expanded, and innovative social programs-many led by NGOs and supported by development partners-have deepened inclusion.
However, the 2025 SDG report makes clear that global turbulence from climate change and pandemics to economic shocks and geopolitical crises is putting even the most resilient development models under strain. Bangladesh is no exception. The country stands at a critical inflexion point: either accelerate progress through systemic reform and investment, or risk undoing decades of social and economic gains.
The report identifies six "critical transitions" where the SDG agenda must now be concentrated: food systems, energy access, digital connectivity, education, employment and social protection, and climate-biodiversity action. These are not abstract global goals, but rather deeply relevant to the Bangladeshi context. Each sector reveals both the strides already made and the vulnerabilities yet to be addressed.
In the realm of food systems, Bangladesh presents a story of contrasts. On one hand, the country has achieved near self-sufficiency in rice production, bolstered by widespread agricultural mechanisation and rural microfinance. On the other hand, malnutrition remains stubbornly high. According to the report, nearly one in eleven people globally experienced hunger in 2023, while over two billion faced moderate to severe food insecurity.
Bangladesh mirrors this pattern. Despite national food availability, undernutrition persists due to poor dietary diversity, food price volatility, and the fragile status of small-scale producers. These producers-who dominate the agricultural sector-often earn less than $500 annually, lack formal land rights, and have limited access to credit, insurance, and modern farming technologies.
The country's agricultural orientation index remains low relative to its GDP contribution, echoing the global finding that despite record-high public agricultural investment, resources are not translating into equitable or sustainable outcomes. Structural reform in rural agrifood systems, support for women farmers, and investments in value chains and cold storage infrastructure are now urgent.
On energy access, the picture is again mixed. Electrification in Bangladesh has expanded significantly, reaching over 96 per cent of the population. The country has successfully scaled solar home systems in off-grid areas, a notable achievement in South Asia. However, the clean cooking agenda lags far behind. The continued use of biomass and inefficient stoves in rural areas contributes to indoor air pollution, health risks, and deforestation.
The UN report highlights that while access to electricity has improved globally, the transition to affordable, renewable, and clean energy is progressing too slowly. In Bangladesh, the share of renewables in the energy mix is under 5 per cent, and fossil-fuel-based energy-particularly coal and imported LNG-remains dominant.
Energy subsidies are not aligned with long-term sustainability, and green financing mechanisms are still in their early stages of development. To meet SDG 7, Bangladesh must commit to a deeper energy transition through expanded investment in decentralised solar grids, incentives for green entrepreneurship, and policies that prioritise energy justice for low-income and climate-vulnerable communities.
In digital inclusion, Bangladesh has made commendable progress. With the rise of "Digital Bangladesh" as a national vision, internet penetration has surpassed 70 per cent. E-governance, mobile banking, and online education platforms have experienced rapid expansion, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the digital divide remains stark. Rural areas continue to suffer from poor connectivity and limited access to devices.
Women, especially in conservative and low-income households, face barriers to digital access, usage, and literacy. The UN report notes that while global internet usage increased from 40 per cent in 2015 to 68 per cent in 2024, inequalities in digital access persist. In Bangladesh, digital progress risks reproducing pre-existing inequalities unless proactively addressed through targeted policy. Without addressing digital illiteracy, affordability, cyber-security risks, and gender bias, the country will not harness the transformative power of technology for inclusive development.
Education has long been a development stronghold in Bangladesh. The country has achieved near gender parity in school enrollment and has invested significantly in stipend programs and the distribution of textbooks. Yet, the SDG report highlights a growing global concern: education quality is stagnating.
In Bangladesh, the problem is acute. Learning outcomes in reading and numeracy remain low, and dropout rates increase sharply at the secondary level, especially among girls. COVID-19 disrupted learning trajectories, particularly for children from rural and urban low-income backgrounds who lacked access to online learning.
The teacher-student ratio remains sub-optimal, and public investment in secondary and vocational education is insufficient to meet future labour market demands. The education system must now shift its focus from access to quality, investing in teacher training, curriculum modernisation, and school safety, while also prioritising digital literacy and climate education.
Employment and social protection are perhaps the most pressing challenges. The UN report warns that over 800 million people globally remain trapped in extreme poverty, and 3.8 billion are without any form of social protection. In Bangladesh, despite progress in employment generation in the garment and construction sectors, the labour market remains dominated by informality, precarity, and gendered segmentation. Youth unemployment, underemployment, and skill mismatches are growing problems.
Only a small fraction of the workforce is covered by pensions, health insurance, or unemployment benefits. Social protection programmes exist-such as old age allowances, widow pensions, and disability stipends-but they are fragmented, poorly coordinated, and vulnerable to political manipulation. The gender gap in access is significant.
According to the report, globally, only 9.7 per cent of people in low-income countries are covered by social protection. For Bangladesh, expanding the coverage, adequacy, and digital delivery of social protection is essential. This will require integrating national ID systems, mobile payments, and robust grievance redress mechanisms to build trust and reduce leakage.
Climate change and biodiversity loss represent the most critical existential threats to Bangladesh. The country's geographic location makes it one of the most climate-vulnerable nations globally. Cyclones, floods, river erosion, sea-level rise, and salinity intrusion are already displacing thousands of people annually and undermining livelihoods.
The 'SDG Report 2025' Global climate finance remains fragmented and insufficient. Despite pledges, disbursements to countries like Bangladesh are slow, bureaucratic, and conditional. Loss and damage negotiations have yielded some commitments at the international level; however, translating these commitments into tangible support for affected communities in Bangladesh remains pending. SDGs 13 and 15 will remain unattainable without climate justice and scaled-up adaptation finance.
One of the most profound takeaways from the UN report is the data crisis. Monitoring SDG progress depends on reliable, timely, and disaggregated data. Yet, as the report notes, statistical systems in many countries remain underfunded and fragmented. The abrupt termination of the USAID-supported Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) in early 2025 exposes the fragility of global data systems.
For Bangladesh, this means losing key data on family planning, child nutrition, gender-based violence, and slum populations-data that inform national budgeting, policy design, and international benchmarking. Without a national investment in data sovereignty-through stronger statistical institutions, interoperable data platforms, and partnerships with academia and civil society-Bangladesh will be flying blind into the final years of the SDGs.
Institutionally, the governance landscape is increasingly recognised as a key determinant of SDG delivery. SDG 16-on peace, justice, and strong institutions-remains one of the least funded and least prioritised goals, globally and in Bangladesh. Yet its relevance is paramount. Transparent public financial management, inclusive planning, judicial independence, press freedom, and civic space are all necessary to ensure that development is democratic and accountable.
The SDG report calls for "urgent multilateralism"-a new social contract that places equity and participation at the heart of development. For Bangladesh, this means investing in local government capacity, opening political space for youth and civil society, and strengthening public service delivery mechanisms.
As the world moves toward 2030, the message from the United Nations is clear: the SDG framework remains within reach, but only if action is taken decisively and immediately. The final five years to 2030 are not merely a countdown-they are a choice. Bangladesh can choose to accelerate toward justice, resilience, and sustainability. Or, it can remain trapped in a cycle of incrementalism and vulnerability. The future is still unwritten-but time is running out.
Dr Matiur Rahman is a researcher and development professional.
