UNOPS Bangladesh Emphasises Women’s Leadership in Chattogram

Bangla Press Desk:  UNOPS Bangladesh on Tuesday convened the SDG Model Dissemination Session on SDG 5 and SDG 16 at Agrabad Hotel, Chattogram, bringing together government officials, development partners, youth leaders, civil society representatives, and educators to showcase a localised approach to advancing gender equality and inclusive governance.

The dissemination session was part of the joint programme “Enhancing Women’s Political Leadership through SDG 5 and SDG 16 Localization in Bangladesh,” implemented by UNOPS in partnership with UN Women with support from the Joint SDG Fund, said a press release.

The initiative aims to strengthen sub-national institutional capacities by empowering young women and schoolgirls through localised think tanks, mentorship networks, and leadership development initiatives.

Chattogram has emerged as a key regional hub for piloting and scaling these innovative approaches.

The event highlighted findings and lessons learned from the implementation of the SDG localisation model, shared success stories from local young women leaders, and explored pathways for integrating gender-responsive approaches into local governance systems.

Speaking at the event as Chief Guest, Member of Parliament Gias Uddin Quader Chowdhury emphasised the importance of local ownership in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

"Sustainable development becomes meaningful when it reflects the aspirations and realities of local communities. Empowering women and young people to participate in decision-making processes is essential to building more inclusive, accountable, and resilient institutions across Bangladesh."Speaking on behalf of UNOPS Bangladesh, Shirin Sultana, project manager, highlighted the importance of translating global commitments into locally driven action.

"Through this initiative, UNOPS is supporting locally led solutions that strengthen women's leadership and institutional capacity at the sub-national level. By connecting young women with mentorship opportunities and fostering inclusive dialogue, we are helping create sustainable pathways toward achieving SDG 5 and SDG 16."

The dissemination session reaffirmed the commitment of UNOPS Bangladesh and its partners to advancing SDG localisation through evidence-based models, cross-sector collaboration, and community-driven solutions that ensure no one is left behind.