On Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Bangladesh (Goal 16)

On Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Bangladesh (Goal 16)

Md. Amzad Hossain,  Perth, Western Australia

Email: A.Hossain@curtin.edu.au

Prelude

We put SDG 16 as the goal of all the 17 SDGs in our discourse “On Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Bangladesh (Part 3)” published on Wednesday, August 09, 2017.[i] Clearly, as SDG 16 reveals, “peace” is the stressing need for people’s inherent spiritual contentment (happiness); and “social inclusion” is a prerequisite to pursuing sustainable development. SDG 16 implies localization of deliberative governance in its key notions and 10 target areas. It is also clear that SDG 16 intrinsically indorses small scale institutions to “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels” by way of “Institution Development”. Building “effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels” is, therefore, the prerequisite to ‘sustainable development”, especially in populous Bangladesh.

In order to ‘Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development’ globally, especially in the countries like Bangladesh where original or natural sustainability is depleting, yet with replenishment opportunities, we stress that the ‘institution’ development initiatives in context must be be of ‘small scale’ (Schumacher, 1974). The small scale institutions are inexorably required, even globally, to “provide access to justice for all”; and also central to ‘build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels’.

Hence, this discourse regards only those social entities as the institutions for sustainable development which are constituted of ‘local(ised) households’, ‘local leaderships’ and ‘local tradition’. The institutions with such criteria can achieve SDG 16 including self-reliant sustainability. Self-reliance (Sonirvarota) has been the most sought-after national agenda of Bangladesh since 1970s. Notably, the state of Sonirvarota was accredited by colonial regimes (1757 – 1947) as the central factor to award ‘Solar Bangla’ (Golden Bengal) without any goldmines in the country  (Hossain, et al. 2014; Hossain and Marinova 2010; Hossain and Marinova 2008; Marinova et al. 2006; Hossain and Marinova 2006.

The small scale institutions in the context of SDG 16 are required to undertake the following localized activities in order to achieve self-reliant sustainability:  (a) to ensure food, clothing and livability security); (b) to uphold local ecosystems services and environmental health; and (c) to educate the locals to earn sustainability values, and knowledge with working skill.

This research develops the following primary research questions and remarks to help understand and achieve SDG 16 forthwith. Wisdom informs: "Ideas without action are worthless" - Harvey Mackay.[ii] And “Actions speak louder than words”.[iii]

Some Wisdom quotes to help understand and achieve SDG 16

Small is Beautiful – Schumacher

No institution can possibly survive if it needs geniuses or supermen to manage it. It must be organized in such a way as to be able to get along under a leadership composed of average human beings. Peter Drucke. (https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/institution)

We need a world class institution which will create leaders out of the children who have not had a good start in life. Shiv Nadar.  (https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/institution)

Our best institutions are like young trees growing upon the roots of the old trunks that have crumbled away. Henry Ward Beecher  (http://wisdomquotes.com/words-of-wisdom/)

No one is really working for peace unless he is working primarily for the restoration of wisdom - Schumacher

Which sustainability pathways SDG 16 aims to propagate?

            The SDG 16 aims to “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels”.

What are the ‘Target Areas’ of the SDG 16?

16.1 significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere

16.2 end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence and torture against children

16.3 promote the rule of law at the national and international levels, and ensure equal access to justice for all

16.4 by 2030 significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen recovery and return of stolen assets, and combat all forms of organized crime

16.5 substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all its forms

16.6 develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels

16.7 ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels

16.8 broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries in the institutions of global governance

16.9 by 2030 provide legal identity for all including birth registration

16.10 ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements

16.a strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacities at all levels, in particular in developing countries, for preventing violence and combating terrorism and crime

16.b promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development

Which target areas promote localization of self-reliant sustainable development through achieving ‘self-reliance’ in Bangladesh?

The target areas 16.1, 16.2,16.5, 16.6, 16.7, 16.9 and 16.b.

Self-reliance is the act of relying on one’s (that is individual’s, society’s or nation’s) own capabilities. The concept emphasizes on the power of independence, creativity, originality and belief in generating strength and resilience. In the past, traditional communities worldwide survived entirely on their own efforts but this drastically changed with industrialization, urbanization and globalization. People at large are now dependent on others for their living (Marinova et al., 2006).

Achieving self-reliant living is an iconic parameter to sustainable development. The goal of self-reliant living is a genuine independence within the available local bio-resources and biosystems with their integrity, stability and beauty preserved (Sterba 1998). It implies meeting basic needs by sustainable natural resources using biosystems or/and bio-friendly human innovated technological systems (ibid.)

On the eve of achieving SDGs Bangladesh needs to make considerable progress towards replenishing the degraded land fertility through the revival of ecological agriculture. A culture of self-reliance guides people to live with the flexible provisions from the physical environment and not to put pressure on the country’s renewable land and other resources, upholding spiritual living in peace and happiness (Hossain, 2001).

What about other target areas?

            The other target areas such as 16.3, 16.4, 16.8 and 16.a are avoidable, especially from Bangladesh’s sustainability point of view. The above target areas hardly conform to the concept of local(ized) small scale institutional entities and self-reliant sustainability at household, community and national perspectives. Rather, the target areas seem to promote intercountry dependence which is inherently unsustainable (Schumacher, 1974). These target areas also tend to pave the ways for anti-sustainability entities such as globalization and globality; which are increasingly being termed as Neo-colonization.They also induce ‘competing with everyone from everywhere for everything’. Numerous literature supporting this notion include Hendry and Fitznor 2012; Thai et al., 2007; Schumacher 1974; Harold et al. 2008; Stiglitz 2003; Thai at al. 2007; Vandana Shiva 1994, 2016; Khan 2003; Spring 2009; Wheeler 2004; Veltmeyer 2008; Blackwell et al.  2003;  Lumbard 2004.

Why is ‘institution’ crucial for sustainable development?

Sustainable Development is defined as “the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (WCED, 1987, p. 16).  The definition indicates that sustainable development incorporates human’s present material and spiritual needs as well as a sustainable tomorrow within the local environment. In this regard, institutions are the means of guiding and controlling individuals to act for meeting their needs within their local environment in a sustainable way.

What is an ‘institution’ in the context of SDG 16?

The term ‘institution’ has diverse definitions and connotations. Woodward and Maxwell define: “An institution is a set of folkways and mores into a unit which serves a number of social functions”. Horton conceives it as: “An institution is an organized system of social relationships which embodies certain common values and procedures and meets certain basic needs of society”.[iv]  

For rural Bangladesh institutions are the lifelines at households and community levels. The institution of brotherhood centric social bondage existed in rural Bangladesh, even at the children level. A poem reveals: ‘পাড়ার সকল ছেলে মোরা ভাই ভাই, এক সাথে খেলি আর পাঠশালায় যাই (We the kids of our locality are brethren, we play together and go school together).

Institutions are the social entities that are created by the people, of the people, for the people – where ‘people’ are the members of individual families, and families are the product of the institution of ‘marriage’, while marriage is a socio-religious ceremony for married people who vow their full commitment to their respective spouse under the law of the land.

Why people create institutions?

People create institutions to address social, cultural and environmental needs including protection of civilizational sustainability. Every institution is dependent upon certain recognized and established set of rules, traditions and usages that are recognized and accepted by society and govern the relations between individuals and groups.[v] That is why  “In every civilized society, there is an established institution put in place to design laws that make people live civilized and having rights and privileges as citizens of that nation.” With regards to the quality of the institutions. Ehsan Sehgal stresses:

 “Every institution can be credible and great if its officials, qualify the moral values, discipline, and honesty, within constitutional limits.”[vi]

Why ‘institutions’ are crucial for reviving sustainable development in rural Bangladesh?

            Sustainable Development or ‘Teksoi Unnoyon’ is mostly achievable by the grassroots with ‘bottom up’ approaches. People at the grassroots had been inherently pursuing development sustainably as part of their livelihood culture prior to the advent of globalization. It is in the 1970s when the Green Revolution technologies as the triggering agent for globalization started to generate unsustainable agricultural development and disintegrate sociocultural institutions. Globalization also resulted in widening of the economic gaps between the rich and the poor farmers. It also generated politico-cultural crises by eroding people’s moral values (Shiva 1993, 2016; Rogers et al. 2008).

It is in this context that in recent years villagers have begun to change their practices away from the discredited methods of the Green Revolution and against planetary death (Shiva 2005). In order to accelerate the practices of sustainable agriculture, small scale demonstration of SDGs model projects such as that of Atgharia Upazilla in Pabna district has to be replicated at other places of the country. Such a small-scale organic farming supports biodiversity and does not exploit nature’s fertility beyond restoration. 

How can an institution achieve sustainable development in terms of SDG 16?

For institutions to achieve SDG 16 the proposed small scale institutions are required, as stated earlier, to undertake localized activities (a) to ensure food, clothing and livability security; (b) to uphold ecosystems services and environmental health; and (c) to educate people to earn sustainability values, and knowledge with working skill.

Restoration of sustainable governance in Bangladesh in relation to food security is required for Self-reliant living in the villages.  The goal of self-reliant living is a genuine independence within the available local bio-resources and biosystems with their integrity, stability and beauty preserved (Sterba 1998). It implies meeting basic needs by sustainable natural resources using biosystems or/and bio-friendly human innovated technological systems (Marinova et al. 2006).

When can an institution be effective, accountable and inclusive at all levels as adopted by SDG 16?

When an institution is comprised of and run by people who qualify the moral values, discipline, and accountability in accordance with their cultural norms and tradition ― Ehsan Sehgal.[vii]

What is the difference between the institutions run by geniuses and supermen, and run under a leadership composed of average human beings?

The main difference between the formally educated and self-educated or self-taught is the difference between theoretical and practical, between one of imaginary and seen. The educated geniuses and superman are generally influenced by what they learn from the books including foreign literature. The institutions, public or private, are also the written set of guide lines, often imposed by the outsiders. Some of our counteracting government institutions are blamed as guided by the foreign bodies such as the World Bank, IMF etc..  The wisdom has it that:

“No institution can possibly survive if it needs geniuses or supermen to manage it. It must be organized in such a way as to be able to get along under a leadership composed of average human beings” - Peter Drucker.[viii]

“We need a world class institution which will create leaders out of the children who have not had a good start in life” - Shiv Nadar.[ix]

“Our best institutions are like young trees growing upon the roots of the old trunks that have crumbled away” - Henry Ward Beecher.[x]

How to (re)make institutions effective, accountable and inclusive at all levels in Bangladesh for (re)vitalizing Sustainable Development?

            We need to work towards reinstating Bangladesh in her glorious historical state of ‘Self-reliance’ and ‘Sonar Bangla’ by practicing sustainable development. Sustainable development for Bangladesh warrants, as Rogers et al. (2008) emphasize, to leave everything in a pristine state, or return to its pristine state; develop not to overwhelm the carrying capacity of the ecosystem; and leave future generations with the sustainability prospects of the present.

 What is the basic (grassroots) institution in Bangladesh?

            The basic institution in Bangladesh is known diversely such as Samaj, Maloth, Gnati etc.; however, the term Samaj is widely used and understood by people.

What is Samaj?

            ‘Samaj’ is constituted of several families of a tribe and/or individual families of a particular locality or neighbourhood. Samaj is the institution of families of the grassroots, for the grassroots, by the grassroots. The rulings of the Samaj is firmly binding on the members to abide by. Amongst others, the purposes of Samaj include conflict resolution amongst the members, help members where collective cooperation is needed such as wedding and funeral ceremonies. In this way the institution of Samaj survives with the spirituality of:

আপনারে লয়ে বিব্রত রহিতে আসে নাই কেহ অবনি পরে – সকলেই মোরা সকলের তরে, প্রত্যেকে পরের তরে (No one is born on this earth to be self-centric – collectively we are all for all, and individually for each other).

What institutional system can “build peaceful and inclusive familial/societal systems” and can work towards achieving “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development”?

The system of ‘traditional marriage’ and joint family systems in rural areas, also in the cities can achieve the notions as above. The traditional marriage is meant to maintain sustainable population growth while the joint or extended family system can help optimize production and consumption needs. More so, as poet Nazrul Islam reveals: এ পৃথিবীতে যাহা কিছু কল্যাণ কর, অর্ধেক তার করিয়াছে নারী অর্ধেক তার নর (Whatever noble works exist on this earth -  men and women have equal contribution).

Why marriage?

Marriage is the state of being united as spouses in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law. In order to make human existence naturally sustainable “God created the institution of marriage for mutual happiness and pleasure” ― Sunday Adelaja.[xi]

Without marriage, human existence is unlikely to sustain fulfilling social sustainability criteria. As a localized small scale institution, it is crucial to revive the institution of ‘traditional marriage’ in order to ensuring civilizational sustainability for every nation on the globe. Wisdom has it that “If traditional marriage is not the law of the land, the institution of the family will cease to exist - James Dobson.[xii]

What is the ultimate purpose of marriage?

Formation of family is the main purpose of marriage. In the context of human society, a family is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth), affinity or co-residence. In other words, a family is a group of people who are related to each other, especially parents and their children. Thus, family is the basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their children. The institution of ‘family’ is the caring and nurturing unit for children, the sick and elderly.[xiii]

Wisdom reveals: “The family was God's idea, not our own, and it is still a wonderful institution” ― James C. Dobson.[xiv]

What are the world views about ‘traditional’ marriage?

From a Christian standpoint: Marriage is a reflection of God on earth. Marriage combines the traditional love of wives and mothers with the guidance of husbands and fathers to create a reflection of God on earth. Jesus Christ blessed marriage with his first public miracle (Plachno, 2013).

From the secular standpoint, the reason why marriage is so important is because it is the single biggest factor in eliminating social problems. Marriage not only supports good over evil but It also has the advantage of two people working together. It goes back to the simple factor of two people, a husband and wife, working together. An airplane with only one engine is much more likely to fall from the sky than one with two engines (Plachno, 2013). 

Buddhist Views on Marriage: Marriage is a social convention, an institution created by man for the well-being and happiness of man, to differentiate human society from animal life and to maintain order and harmony in the process of procreation.

Hindu marriage joins two male and female individuals for life, so that they can pursue DharmA (duty), Artha (possessions), and Kama (physical desires). It is a union of two individuals as husband and wife, and is recognized by law.

From Islamic standpoint: Islam is a strong advocate of marriage. The Prophet  has said "there is no celibacy in Islam.” Hence, marriage is a religious duty and is consequently a moral safeguard as well as a social necessity. It is a social necessity because through marriage, families are established and the family is the fundamental unit of our society. Furthermore, marriage is the only legitimate way to indulge in intimacy between a man and a woman. Thus, marriage is a solemn covenant (agreement) that your spouse is your choice for life.  The Prophet said "when a man marries, he has fulfilled half of his religion, so let him obey Allah regarding the remaining half."

How SDG16 is fundamental for Bangladesh?

It is clear that the influence of globalization has degenerated the country’s institutions resulting in antonymic situation. It has, though, apparently generated income increase, concurrently it has resulted in making the poor people poorer and the rich richer. Moreover, anti-social activities, political instability, corruption and bribery are widespread. In order to address this situation SDG 16 intrinsically promotes peace, happiness, contentment, security and self-reliant sustainability.

What is the most burning issue in Bangladesh that SDG16 addresses?

SDG 16.5 urges to “substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all its forms”. Though extraneous, the UN urges for ‘zero poverty and zero hunger’ in SDGs 2 and 3; but in the case of corruption and bribery the UN urges for ‘substantial reduction only’, while the target should be the opposite in terms of need and practicality. Thus, the target area 16.5 has clearly become a SDGs component of bleak implications and outcomes. On the other hand, if we can achieve the target area16b that urges to “develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels”, then ‘corruption and bribery’ are likely to naturally disappear.

Corruption and bribery as the pervasively problematic issues that are now overwhelmingly practiced in almost all institutions in Bangladesh – government and non-government sectors alike. Socioeconomic sectors comprising of farmers, businesspersons, education providers, governance and policymakers – are all more or less infested with corruption and bribery. A recent report reveals that Bangladesh’s position slipped six steps in the index for 2018 — going to 149 from 2017’s 143, according to the latest rankings released by Berlin-based Transparency International (TI), published on January 29, 2019.[xv]

At the same time the discourse finds 16.6 ‘develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels” as the panacea to addressing the problems. By building “effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels”, people can cause ‘corruption and bribery’ to naturally vanish.

How the traditional small scale institutions can generate social sustainability in Bangladesh?

The traditional small scale institutions such as Samaj and joint family system are now almost non-existing. Like the institution of Samaj, joint family system comprising of two or more generations of kindred related through either the paternal or maternal line are meant to generate common social, economic, and religious regulations. It is highly effective for facilitating and sustaining holistic self-reliance in terms of joint property, joint kitchen, division of work, emotional security, social security and heritage keeping.[xvi]

Why are the institutions of Bangladesh degrading?

The institutions have been polluted with acculturation, which is the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group in the name of globalization. It is cultural modification of an individual, group and local institutional traditionalism by adapting to or borrowing traits from another culture. Acculturation results in changing so you become more like people from a different culture, or of making someone change in this way.[xvii]

How to restore small scale institutions in Bangladesh for achieving SDG 16?

          The task is difficult, yet achievable. Bangladesh government needs to change the unsustainable model of the present political culture (i.e. Western secular democracy) which is largely sustained by facilitating and sowing the seeds of corruption. Attracting donations indiscriminately to raise funds to run the political parties is a live example of inducing corruption. Many people consider ‘donations to political parties’ as ‘business investment’. The donors in context are often involved in corruption. Within this reality whatever political commitments are made to curtail corruption remain largely unfulfilled. Yet, there is a prospect of improvement of the situation. The emerging concept of localization of SDGs launched by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) sounds promising. The spirit of SDGs being visible, measurable and countable outcomes, they can only be achieved with honest and patriotic mindset, approaches and actions. Corruption and bribery must be hated in the SDGs projects.  Apart from নিয়তের মধ্যেই ফল নিহিত (Reward lies in the intention), the success of the PMO’s special initiatives in line with achieving SDGs would also rest on the COMPETENTLY undertaking of topography specific action research demo model projects for replication nationwide. The SDGs Model Demo Project in Lakshmipur union under Atgharia Upazila in Pabna district is such an action research initiative. Another one is underway in Kamarpara under Dhaka North City Corporation.

          Finally, proficiency is the key to selecting sites for implementing the concept of localization of SDGs in Bangladesh; otherwise things may result futile; as Lalon Fakir sings:

যেও না আন্দাজি পথে মন রসনা

কুপাকে কুপাচে পলে প্রাণ বাচবে না।

পথের পরিচয় করে – যাও না মনের সন্দেহ মেরে।

লাভ লোকসান বুদ্ধির দ্বারে যাবে জানা ।

(Do not proceed through conjectural path. It has fatal pitfalls.

Identifying a sustainable pathway, proceed diligently.

Success or failure would depend on intellectual competence).

Concluding Remarks

Globalization has a profound unsustainable influence on all walks of human life including personal and family life in Bangladesh.[xviii] Innovative renewal of the traditional institutions is a way forward to restore localized institutional sustainability. Amongst others, Bangladesh has been experiencing deprivation of functionalism of the traditional local institutions with regards to socio-cultural inclusivity, harmony, peace and happiness management due to the advent of Western cultural globalization. All sorts of socio-economic and moral corruption now exist lively in Bangladesh.

Though late, the people at the grassroots now see the disastrous anti-sustainability state of Bangladesh. In some cases, they seem to have started to stand up to take a U-turn in their lifestyles. Other aspects to be addressed include the poverty in terms of widening income gaps, corruption, bribery, dreadful social and political crimes,  quality less non-applied education and rapidly depleting peace and happiness in the society. To address the above, the institutions such as family, marriage, and Samaj systems (local governance) need to be urgently restored.

In sum, Bangladesh urgently needs revival of its traditional institutional governance in its pristine shape to “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies” that  Baul Abdul Karim shah (d. 2014) depicts in his song the picture of a peaceful and inclusive society the Baul saw in his youth:

আমরা আগে কি সুন্দর দিন  কাটাইতাম How in happiness our days were spent in the past!

গেরামের  নওজোয়ান হিন্দু  মুসলমান.    Comprising of the Hindu and Muslim youths
মিলিয়া  বাউলা গান আর মুরশিদি গাইতাম we used to sing the Baul and Murshidi songs.

হিঁদু বাড়িতে  যাত্রা গান হইত  The Hind households hosted Jatra music

নিমন্ত্রণ দিত আমরা যাইতাম they invited us, we used to attend.
জারি গান গান, বাউল গান আনন্দের  তুফান  Singing of Jari and Baul songs generated storming pleasure
গাইয়া সারি গান নৌকা  দৌড়াইতাম  and singing Sari song we raced the boats.

বর্ষা যখন হইত, গাজির  গান আইত, When the rainy season appeared, the songs of Gazi emerged
রঙে ঢঙেগাইত আনন্দ পাইতাম ।। We sang with colourfull posture, enjoyed immense pleasure. 

কে হবে মেম্বার, কে বা গেরাম সরকার.  Who would be member, who the village chief,
আমরা কি  তার খবরও লইতাম ।।            We need not take the details.

বিবাদ ঘটিলে  পঞ্চায়েতর বলে                    When conflict occurred, justice by the chairman
গরীব কাংগালের বিচার পাইতাম ।।           were received by the poor victims

মানুষ ছিল  সরল ছিল ধর্ম  বল ।।  People were simple, had the spirit of religion
এখন সবাই পাগল কেমনে বড়লোক  হইতাম ।। Now all are crazy for how to become rich

করি  ভাবনা সেই দিন  আর পাব না           Now I think that I will never get back those days
ছিল বাসনা সুখি  হইতাম ।।                      I had aspiration for becoming happy.

দিন হতে দিন আসেছ যে  কঠিন.         The coming days are being harder
করিম  দীনহীন কোন পথে  যাইতাম।।  which strategy is for Karim, the poor, to take.

(to be continued)

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The End Notes