Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday inaugurated three villages as “SDG Villages” under the country’s first-ever pilot programme aimed at accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The prime minister inaugurated the three villages at the “National Conference on Navigating Five Year Strategic Framework for Achieving SDGs: Policy, Partnership and Priorities” at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Md Suzauddhowla (Sujan Mahmud).

Three villages are – Nafangar in Bochaganj upazila of Dinajpur, Pankhali in Dacope upazila of Khulna and Mitingachhari in Kaptai upazila of Rangamati.

Under the project, the villages will gradually be developed by alleviating poverty, addressing waterlogging and drainage problems, ensuring quality education, improving healthcare services, reducing maternal and child mortality, and expanding access to safe drinking water and modern sanitation facilities.