Thrust on ensuring sound corporate governance

Experts have put thrust on aligning the private sector, from where more than 70 per cent revenue income is generated with the implementation process of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure the economic growth of the country.

They also highlighted creation of highly skilled manpower to strengthen the capacity of existing professional institutes of the country.

The suggestions came in a seminar titled "SDGs: Private Sector's Roles and Challenges", arranged by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries of Bangladesh (ICSB) on Saturday.

M. A. Mannan, M P, Minister, Ministry of Planning graced the seminar as the Chief Guest.

He said that Bangladesh is one of the few countries that has achieved its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) targets faster than projected and is actively engaged in realising the more challenging SDGs.

"To retain the optimum economic growth of our country, establishing corporate governance is essentially needed," he said.

He hoped that ICSB would continue to strive hard to produce competent and worthy qualified professionals, who would help to build a prosperous Bangladesh.

Md. Abul Kalam Azad, Principal Coordinator, SDG Affairs, Prime Minister's Office, Government of Bangladesh attended the programme as Special Guest.

He made a presentation on SDGs and Dr. M. Harunur Rashid, the Chairman of BAC International presented a keynote paper on "SDGs: Private Sector's Roles and Challenges".

Md. Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, President, FBCCI, Nihad Kabir, President, MCCI, Shehzad Munim, President, FICCI, Asif Ibrahim, Former President, DCCI, Shaila Khan and Assistant Country Director, UNDP participated in the panel discussion.

Mr. Mohammad Asad Ullah FCS, Chairman, Professional Development Sub Committee and Immediate Past President of ICSB presided over the seminar.

He said specific SDG indicators should be in line with the country context and the country should be innovative and work out own domestic indicators in line with own development challenges to make the SDG efforts a success.

"Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) should be strengthened to address the data gap in order to properly implement the SDGs," he commented.

Mohammad Sanaullah FCS, the president of the Institute emphasized on practicing good Corporate Governance.

"Ensuring good governance is the key ingredient to support the company's sustainable growth. Corporate sector also plays important role in helping to meet the SDGs of the country. The Role of the Company Secretary in Sustainability Governance provides an overview of how governance professionals can support the board's emerging "environmental, social and governance" (ESG) mandate," he said.

He urged the government to include ICSB members in the activities of the SDG's programme for the greater interest of the country.

Prof. Dr. Feroz Iqbal Faruque, FCS, former Senior Vice President of ICSB offered vote of thanks on behalf of the Institute.