BD renews urban resilience pledge at UN

Bangladesh has reaffirmed its commitment to building inclusive, affordable, climate-resilient and sustainable cities, with State Minister for Housing and Public Works Ahammad Sohel Monzoor outlining the government’s urban development priorities at a high-level United Nations meeting.

Addressing the Midterm Review of the New Urban Agenda at the United Nations Headquarters on July 16, the state minister said Bangladesh views urbanisation as a key driver of economic growth, social inclusion and climate resilience.

He said planned urbanisation, affordable housing and balanced regional development remain central to Bangladesh’s national development strategy.

He said that under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s ‘Bangladesh First’ principle, the government is pursuing coordinated spatial planning, expanding access to affordable housing, strengthening local governance and improving urban infrastructure in line with the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Ahammad Sohel Monzoor said Bangladesh’s urban development agenda places particular emphasis on integrated spatial planning, digital land management, innovative urban financing, balanced regional development and climate-responsive infrastructure.

Reaffirming the country’s commitment to international cooperation, he called for stronger global partnerships, greater technology transfer, enhanced capacity-building and innovative financing to accelerate sustainable urbanisation.

The state minister said the shared objective should be to build cities that leave no one and no place behind.