Towards Sustainable Social Development in Bangladesh

Abstract

This special issue is a tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022), who was the Head of the Commonwealth. Bangladesh became the 32nd member of the Commonwealth on 18 April 1972. As the Head of Commonwealth, Her Majesty was engaged in a number of Sustainable Development programs among the member states. In Bangladesh, her visit in 1983, alongside eulogisation on several occasions about the coping and resilience of the people of Bangladesh when natural disasters attacked the country, gave confidence and conviction among the people of Bangladesh, which in turn significantly impacted sustainable social development. Social development is multidimensional as it covers all social sectors that bring about all-around development to health, education, family planning, environment, gender equality, infrastructure, social services and so on. It is not only social development but sustainable social development which has been recently emphasised by academics, researchers, development partners, environmentalists and many others. Bangladesh, a lower middle-income country, has been thriving to ensure sustainable social development in different sectors, resulting in some commendable outcomes, despite many barriers that she faces now. The articles included in this special issue of Space and Culture, India journal, have focused on multidimensional and multifarious factors relating to sustainable social development in Bangladesh. The diverse perspectives explain and critically analyse varied issues that are directly linked to sustainable development goals (SDGs) declared by the United Nations (UN), which may be considered important for the overall improvement of the social development indicators of Bangladesh. These articles could be useful for the policymakers concerned about ensuring sustainable social development not only in Bangladesh but in all developing and least developed countries worldwide.