Progress with Sustainable Development Goals in Bangladesh: Economic and Social perspectives

Abstract

In the modern world, sustainable development is necessary to advance well-being and guarantee effective resource use. Pursuing sustainable development is extremely difficult for Bangladesh, especially in the social and economic spheres. Obstacles to the country's achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 include crises in the banking industry, rising income disparity, high inflation rates, rural-urban disparity, and an excessive focus on growth rates. To achieve the SDGs, Bangladesh must integrate them effectively into national planning, ensuring both vertical alignment (national to local levels) and horizontal alignment (across ministries and sectors). The localization of SDGs is crucial to ensuring inclusivity and prioritizing the most vulnerable populations. This study assesses Bangladesh’s progress in achieving sustainable development through economic and social perspectives, using secondary data covering 2005–2024. This study employs a quantitative, descriptive, and analytical design, using descriptive statistics, regression, correlation, and ARIMA forecasting to evaluate Bangladesh’s progress toward economic and social SDGs. Results show poverty declined from 42% in 2005 to 13.5% in 2024, while electricity access expanded from 44.2% to 99.5%. However, ARIMA forecasts indicate that by 2030, GDP growth will stabilize at 6.36%, poverty will fall further to 12%, and maternal mortality will be 42 per 100,000 live births, alongside sustained universal electricity. Nevertheless, inflation is projected at 10.75%, youth unemployment at 12.3%, and inequality at a Gini of 0.3425, leaving progress uneven and several SDG targets off track. The findings indicate that although Bangladesh has made substantial progress in reducing poverty, improving maternal health, and expanding energy access, persistent macroeconomic challenges risk slowing momentum toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The study concludes that inclusive policies on employment generation, skills development, redistribution, and social protection are critical to align future outcomes with SDG targets.