On Reinterpreting SDGs : Bangladesh Perspectives (Part 1)

On Reinterpreting SDGs : Bangladesh Perspectives (Part 1)

Amzad Hossain, Perth, Western Australia

Email: A.Hossain@curtin.edu.au

Prelude

In the context of ‘achieving’ Sustainable Development Goals’ (SDGs), the term ‘re-achieving’ is likely to be more appropriate. Generally, the term ‘achieving’ points towards realizing something new or non-existed phenomena. ‘Sustainable Development’ is not a paradigm that needs to be achieved for the first time.  Sustainable development did exist in the past and still exists in traditional societies. It just needs ‘re-achieving’. (Khan, M., Hossain, A., Marinova, D. 2016). Thus, ‘achieving’ as used in the UN SDGs texts since September 2015 remains confusing; and likely to suffer from ‘out of context’ syndrome. Sustainability used to be the normal state of the natural environment and social communities prior to globalization. The world communities including Bangladesh – inherently a country of traditional societies - are extensively researching on the assumed challenges in ‘achieving’ SDGs, not challenges in ‘re-achieving’ it. However, the use of the term ‘achieving’ seems to be working as a wakeup call.

‘Re-achieving’ typically points to the entities that are of recent past, but currently invisible, as it has just happened to Bangladesh in the case of sustainable development. The deep-rooted blue-print of sustainable development of Bangladesh is still in people’s memory. It just needs ‘re-achieving’ by way of action research, i.e. action and research on outcomes concurrently. In other words, ‘re-achieving’ means re-instatement of inherent development legacy that has been disrupted by the Western mal-development prescriptions. Hence, in the context of sustainable development the term ’re-achieving’ gives an optimistic impression. It also embeds thought provoking appeal to innovative and futuristic minds, especially to those who are embedded in a mindset and culture that care about future generations.

What does this discourse aim at?

The discourse aims to reflect on the episodically published 17 discourses on re-achieving SDGs, largely  in Bangladesh context.[i] Bangladesh is a land of unity in immense diversity, and paradoxes, as well. The saying “Whatever you hear about Bangladesh, the opposite is equally true” (Anonymous) has emerged from this view point. Justifiably, it is not easy for people to grasp the totality of sustainability perspectives of the country, especially for outsiders who tend to pose themselves as development prescription makers of the country. The outsiders in context must know first the fact that Bangladesh had been inherently in the culture of sustainable development prior to the acculturation by Western-ism including techno-mechanical inorganic development.  For them, conceiving Bangladesh holistically is, thus, a prerequisite to their understanding of sustainable development in diversely varying landscape of Bangladesh.

What realities exist in Bangladesh in re-achieving SDGs?

For multi-dimensionally diversified Bangladesh, re-achieving SDGs are somewhat problematic. It is problematic not only for outsiders as indicated earlier, but also for native actors such as detached Pundits, ignorant activists and fake politicians. On the other hand, re-achieving SDGs is spontaneous for the self-made and fervent development practitioners and innovators. Observing this phenomenon Novak (1993) reveals: "When you visit Bangladesh, by all means view the people as they are. But for your sake and theirs, remember that you are dealing with people who know what development is”.

The native actors of Bangladesh exist in 3 distinct categories. The first category is comprised of Pundits (scholars). They are well informed about the problems and challenges of re-achieving SDGs. But they do not know how to encounter problems and adversities. They prefer to prescribe solution, though futilely. This occurs because such Pundits are ignorant of the wisdom that ‘Every Problem Contains the Seed of its Own Solution’ ( Lane ).[ii]  This informs that the seed of solution lies in the problem itself, and in every adversity, there is a positive possibility. Most Pundits in context also lack the basics of their own survival needs. The condition of such Pandits devoid of foundation learning is illustrated by the following Bengali folk story.

A pundit (scholar) was once crossing a big river on a boat. On the way the pundit asked the boatman ‘do you know how to read or write?’ ‘No’. ‘Then 25% of your life is spoiled.’ After a while the pandit asked ‘Do you know why tides take place?’ ‘No.’ ‘Then 50% of your life is spoiled Again he asked ‘do you know why eclipses occur?’ ‘No.’ ‘Then 75% of your life is spoiled.’ In the mean time a storm developed. The boatman asked the pundit ‘Do you know how to swim?’. ‘No’. The boatman exclaimed: ‘ Then 100% of your life is spoiled.’

The second group comprising of some educated people who pretend to be busy just to show as some opportunists do. Their activities resemble the Sufi story ‘Searching for the Lost Key’ of Mullah Nasir Uddin:

One day, people saw Mullah Nasruddin out in the street searching frantically for something. “What are you searching for, Mullah? They enquired. “I’ve lost my key” replied Mullah. The helping nature of mankind was at work. So everyone joined him, trying to help him. After some search someone had the urge to ask the place where exactly, the key was lost. So that more condensed search could be made. So, the enquiry was made for the same to Nasruddin.

“I lost the key in the house,” replied Mulla.

 “Then why are you searching for it in the street?” was the obvious question asked to him.

 “Because there is more light here.” Replied the Mulla

The third group is comprised of the self-educated i.e. formally uneducated workforce. They know what sustainable development is (Novak, 1993). Some of them also appear like the innovator of the story ‘Juta Abiskar’ (invention of shoes’) by Rabindranath Tagore:

One day King Habuchandra told his Mantri Gabuchandra “Look, all through last night I was impatient in thought that why my feet should be dirty by soil whenever I step on ground? My own land dares to soil my foot, …immediately find some remedy of this nuisance otherwise I should not spare any of you.”

Gabuchandra thought a lot…, seventeen and half lakhs brooms were purchased. .. sweeping began to remove dus …  the whole kingdom became full of dust.

Now water department came into action with twenty one lakhs buckets. All water of lakes and ponds they used to settle dust. Entire land was flooded with water. The angry King said “all are so stupid ass that killing the dust they have made it all wet muddy.

Again all great scholars were called…. The next suggestion was to cover the entire earth by leather. So all people ran in every direction in search but neither a good Chamar (Cobbler) for this job nor enough leather was available. Lastly head of the Chamar Tribe appeared in the picture.  Sitting at the feet of the King the Chamar crafted a pair of nice cover of leather for the feet of the  King. From that day the tradition of shoes started

What is a simple way of re-achieving SDGs?

In short, re-achieving SDGs can favourably take place when the self- educated grassroots actors are put first in reinstating social, economic and ecological aspects of sustainable development. They traditionally follow: (1) integration of conservation and development, (2) satisfaction of basic human needs, (3) achievement of  equity and  social justice, (4) provision of social self-determination and cultural diversity, and (5) maintenance of ecological integrity ( IUCN 1986 in Wheeler, 2004:25).

How many types of actors are required for re-achieving SDGs?

Generally, 5 kinds of actors are required: Innovators, Renovators, Implementers, Promoters, and Assessors. Innovators are required to innovate new ideas, approaches, technologies and methods for re-achieving SDGs. Renovators are required to modify things in compliance with the indicators for re-achieving SDGs. Implementers are the action researchers for demonstration of the outcomes. Promoter are required for promotion or technology transfer of the re-achieved SDGs,  Assessors evaluate the outcomes of the implementation in terms of sustainability.

How self-educated working masses can be put first in order for initiating sustainable development in Bangladesh?

            The initiatives for re-achieving SDGs by the self-educated working masses can be triggered by way of voluntary Group Formation. The elected members of the group are the executive actors who carry out necessary activities in cooperation with local people and the local government officials. The voluntary groups are recognized as an institution for re-achieving economic self-reliance, social harmony and occupational perfection, removing  harmful social phenomena and generating ecological vibrancy.
 

How can the institution of the grassroots can address poverty, hunger and social wellbeing (SDGs 1, 2)?

 The most vibrant institution of the grassroots is the institution of village or Mahalla Chief, The chief is also known as Samaj Prodhan (Community Chief) who knows ins and outs about the socio-economic situation of the households in his/her Samaj. People cannot misinform him/her about their economic condition. As a local resident the chief knows who are poor, why poor and what measures can remove specific poverty, deprivation sustainably. S/he is generally a neutral person, and is concerned about the wellbeing of the people.

Is the Institution of the Baul Philosopher-singer helpful for re-achieving SDGs?

            Yes. The Institution of the Baul Philosopher-singer appears to be very effective institution for promoting socioreligious sustainability keeping in Bangladesh.

Who are the Bauls?

Bauls are mostly unlettered, yet full of poetic, musical, and philosophical talent, the Bauls (saintly mendicants) of Bengal are often seen as being at the root of Bengali culture. They come from both Muslim and Hindu backgrounds. As a tradition in the Bengali cultural context, Bauls are unique in socio-religious syncretisation (Hossain, 1990).

Bauls are environmentalist by their belief and practice. They are simple, natural, unembellished and rooted in the soil... Bauls are though illiterate, but hearing their innumerable songs, one cannot but regard them as supreme Pundits (scholars). Bauls are highly charismatic. People take their words religiously (Hossain, 2001).

How the institution of the Bauls reveal sustainable development in their songs?

The following Baul songs are widely used to align people’s mindset to sustainability keeping:

Porer jaiga porer jomi

Ghar banaia ami roi.

            Ami tho se ghorer malik noi.

পরের জায়গা পরের জমি

            ঘর বানাইয়া আমি রৈ

আমি ত  সে ঘরের মালিক ন ই  - বাউল হাসন রাজা

(I build home to live in an Unknown Entity’s land.

I am not the owner of the house) – Baul Hason Raja

            A prithibi jemon silo temon re thik robe

            Sundar e priyhibi sere sobar chole jethe hobe.

            এ পৃথিবী যেমন ছিল তেমনই ঠিক রবে

            সুন্দর এ পৃথিবী ছেড়ে সবার চলে যেতে হবে। বাউল বিজয় সরকার

 (We are obliged to leave this beautiful earth keeping the earth as it has been) - Baul Bijoy Sarkar

        Baignanik abad ar korona

        A abad kokhono teksoi hoy na

        Khonar bochone fire cholo

        Khonar gnaner nai tolona. (Harun Baul)

        বৈজ্ঞানিক আবাদ আর করোনা

        এ আবাদ কখন টেকসই হয় না

        খনার বচনে ফিরে চল

        খনার জ্ঞানের নাই তুলনা – হারুন বাউল

(Do not adapt modern farming, it is not sustainable, re-achieve Khona’s wisdom, it is incomparable)

          Gram banglar vandare bhai, kono kisur ovab nai

          Sethai manus sohoj sorol jibon japoene olpete sontusto roy.

          Shohorer chakchikko sere Harun Baul tai grame  roy. - Harun Baul

          গ্রাম বাংলার ভাণ্ডারে ভাই, কোন কিছুর অভান নাই।

          সেথায় মানুষ সহজ সরল জীবন যাপনে  অল্পতে সন্তুষ্ট রয়।

          শহরের চাকচিক্ক  ছেড়ে  হারুন বাউল গ্রামে রয়। - হারুন বাউল

(There is no insufficiency in the rural treasure of Bangladesh. There people remain happy living in simple lifestyle.  Harun, therefore, lives in village leaving the glamour of cities).

         Jeo na andaji pathe, o mon rasana.

         Kupanke kupanche pole, praan bachbe na.

         Pather parichoy kare,

         Jao na maner sandeh mere,

         Lav lokshan buddhir dare Jabe jana. (Lalon Fakir).

         যেও না আন্দাজি পথে মন রসনা

         কু পাকে কু প্যাচে পলে প্রাণ বাঁচবে না।

         পথের পরিচয় করে জায় না মনের সন্দেহ মেরে – লালন ফকির

         লাভ লোকসান বুদ্ধির দ্বারে যাবে জানা।

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

Identifying a sustainable path, proceed diligently.

Intention results in right or wrong).

           Khal beeler pani korse moder lalon palon

           Cholo bhai kori mora vorat khal khanon.

           Nodi nala ar beel bangor,

           Dop jola ar mathel, pukur

           Sob e jasse vorat hoye

           Prakriti ar manuser karon.

          খাল বিলের পানি করছে মোদের লালন পালন।

          চল ভাই করি মোরা ভরাট খাল খনন।

          নদী নালা আর বিল বাঙ্গর

         দোপ  জলা আর মাঠেল পুকুর

         সব যে যাচ্ছে ভরাট হয়ে, প্রকৃতি আর মানুষের কারণ। হারুন বাউল

 (The water resources of the wetlands help sustain us. Let us go to re-excavate the silting wetland. The rivers, lakes and canals, lowlands, ditches and ponds – all are being silted both naturally and due to human intervention).

What are major visible and measurable sustainability indicators of Bangladesh? 

 “Nadi vora jol                            Waters in river,

math vora sashay                                 fields full of crops,

pukur vora maas                                   ponds full of fish,

gohal vora garu                         cows in the cowshed,

bari vora gaas                           homesteads with trees,

pakhir kolotan                            melodious tune of the birds,

shisur koahol                             uproar of children,

bauler o majheer gaan               songs of Bauls and boatmen,

Rathe banya jantu O vuther voy.”         fear of wild animals and                                                                                                                         ghosts at night.

What are the major concerns with regards to  achieving each SDGs in Bangladesh?

SDG 2 “End hunger, in all its forms, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture”.

The issue of food security and improved nutrition can be visibly achieved by sustainable agriculture; and sustainable agriculture can be achieved by multi-cropping with bio-manures. The issue of ‘hunger’ has been discussed in details in http://newsfrombangladesh.net/photo-story/37

SDG 3 “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”.   

This goal could be sustainably achieved by practicing the culture of ‘Eating less to live longer and be happy with less’ prevails.

SDG 4 “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”.  

In Bangladesh context, this goal emphasizes on values and skill development education concurrently. This goal can be largely achieved by SDG 4.7 as the educational culture for Bangladesh. SDG 4.7 stands for “by 2030 ensure all learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.” See more at http://newsfrombangladesh.net/photo-story/39 

SDG 5 “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”.

The socio-religious tradition of Bangladesh culture endows women with high respect and familial empowerment including safety at home and outside. The current globalized western socio-economic culture has resulted in a dire safety crisis for women at home and outside. This unsustainable situation must be addressed in order to achieve this goal.  See more at http://newsfrombangladesh.net/photo-story/40 

SDG 6 “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.”

This goal is achievable through re-excavation of all the dying water bodies of Bangladesh. The indicator is ‘ আমােদর েছাট নদী চেল বােক বােক ৈবশাখ মােস তার হাটু জল থােক (Our small rivers run along with curves and bends. Knee level water exists there in the month of Boishakh (i.e. summer).
See More at http://newsfrombangladesh.net/photo-story/41 

SDG7 “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.”

Bangladesh is making good progress in order to achieve this goal. But the streetlight or lights outside of home at night is resulting in the extinction of nocturnal species. This crucial aspect is yet to be realized by the rural masses. Government policy intervention is essential in this respect. See more at http://newsfrombangladesh.net/photo-story/43

SDG8 “Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all”.

Sustainability of this goal for Bangladesh denotes that economic growth must take place only at par population growth of the country and sustainable distribution of socioeconomic goods and services. The current culture of higher economic growth and worsening distribution of goods and services is clearly unsustainable in the long run. See more at http://newsfrombangladesh.net/photo-story/42

SDG9 “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”.

In order to achieve this goal, Bangladesh government must give priority to the development of the countries waterways network first. Development of railway network should be the second priority. As highway development is highly unsustainable in all respect, so it should be avoided as much as possible.   

            In the case of industrialization, localization  of small-scale industrialization for meeting essential consumption needs is the only sustainable way forward. See more at http://newsfrombangladesh.net/photo-story/44  

SDG10 Inequality “Reduce inequality within and among countries”.

It is unlikely that inequality between countries would be reduced in the current global culture of increasing inequality, The same is the case with Bangladesh with respect to inequality within Bangladesh.  Restoring cultural harmony and religiously prescribed  socio economic obligations can be way forward for Bangladesh. See more at http://newsfrombangladesh.net/photo-story/14 

SDG11 “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”.

Achieving SDG 11 appears bleak in Bangladesh. This is due to a lack of post-development maintenance or renovation of buildings, roads and railways, and water bodies etc. that can synergistically make human settlements safe and sustainable. On the other hand, most cities of Bangladesh, except the mega city of Dhaka, are reasonably inclusive, resilient and affordable in the country’s livability context. However, making the existing cities in Bangladesh safe and sustainable within the norms of  this goal seems feasible by way of the implementation of urbanization with rural face (i.e.Rurbanization), and vertical housing to prevent the current consumption of 1% of prime land for housing and other infrastructural development. See More at: http://newsfrombangladesh.net/photo-story/15

SDG12 “Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns “

Achieving this goal requires production to meet the need of essential consumption i.e. no production for creating artificial demand and generating profit with corrupt marketing mechanism. Production as per the carrying and regenerative capacity of nature is, of course, to be considered. See more at http://newsfrombangladesh.net/photo-story/20

            This goal deals with rhetoric of manmade climate change. It is thought that minimum consumption of wooden products  such as tissue papers, wood based products for packaging, minimum consumption of meat and dairy products i.e. flexitarian dietary habit,  no polythene and plastic industries, and  using surface water with responsible consumption would help stop the current trend of abrupt climate change. See more at http://newsfrombangladesh.net/photo-story/26

SDG14 “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”.

In order to achieve this goal two affordable practices must be done. Firstly, no plastic dumping in the water which is now amounting to a8 million metric tons of plastic are thrown into the ocean annually. There are five massive patches of plastic in the oceans around the world. These huge concentrations of plastic debris cover large swaths of the ocean; the one between California and Hawaii is the size of the state of Texas. Every minute, one garbage truck of plastic is dumped into our oceans. By 2050 there will be more plastic in the oceans than there are fish (by weight). Plastic is found in the ocean as far as 11km deep, meaning synthetic fibers have contaminated even the most remote places on Earth. See more at http://newsfrombangladesh.net/photo-story/27

SDG15 “Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss”.

Use of bio-fertilizer and bio-insecticides etc. and no deforestation are two main means of achieving this goal. See more at http://newsfrombangladesh.net/photo-story/29

SDG16  “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels”.

Effective institution development for good governance, peace etc., as stated in this goal, is the only means to achieve this goal. Bangladesh was in a credible situation in the past. Currently, no government or social institutions are running effectively. Restoration of the then democracy and good governance is urgently required to achieve this goal. See more at http://newsfrombangladesh.net/photo-story/35

SDG17 “Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development”.

It is widely criticized that official international partnership is clearly responsible for the current unsustainable situation of the world, especially the LDCs. Addressing this goal formally is, therefore, unnecessary for Bangladesh.  See more at http://newsfrombangladesh.net/photo-story/45

Concluding remarks

It is natural that we search for things when they are found to be missing. Sustainable development was noted as a missing phenomenon in the Brundtland Report in 1987. In order to re-instate it, the Report defines: “Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Brundtland Commission 1987). However, unlike Mullah Nasiruddin we need to search for sustainable development where it was suppressed in the process of globalization, including the Green Revolution. So, we need to place the pre-globalization social and environmental scenarios into the domain of our future development framework.

Literature concerned with re-achieving SDGs suggests that the Green Revolution has corrupted our cultural values, society, education, land, water and the entire natural environment (Shiva 1993, 2005, 2016). Now we earnestly need to change our mindset in order to respect our forefathers’ sustainability keeping with moral values and social norms depicted through simple lifestyle, consumption driven production, spirituality, naturalism and wisdom.

(To be continued)

References

Hossain, A. 1991. Religious Beliefs and Practices of the Bauls of Bangladesh. Master of Arts thesis. Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.

Hossain, A 2001, ‘Renewing self-reliance for rural Bangladesh through renewable energy technology system’, PhD thesis, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia.

Khan, M., Hossain, A., & Marinova, D. (2016, in press). Sustainability accounting for natural resource management in Bangladesh. In T. Kerr, & J. Stephens (Eds), Indian Ocean futures: Communities, sustainability and society. Newcastle, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Novak, James. 1993. Bangladesh: Reflections on the Water. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.

Shiva, V 1993, The violence of the Green Revolution: ecological degradation and political conflict in Punjab, Zed Press. New Delhi.

Shiva, V 2005, Earth democracy: justice, sustainability and peace, South End Press, Cambridge.

Shiva, V 2016, The violence of the Green Revolution: Third world agriculture, ecology and politics, Kentucky University Press, Lexington, KY.

Wheeler, Stephen M. (2004) Planning for Sustainabiliy – cearting livable, equitable, and ecological communities.  London: Routledge.