Three villages of the country are set to become SDG Village by attaining the goals as set by the United Nations.

The villages are Pankhali village of Dakop Upazila in Khulna, Mitinga Chhari of Kaptai Upazila of Rangamati and Nafanagar of Bochaganj upazila of Dinajpur, officials said.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday (August 10) will virtually inaugurate the initiative at Pankhali with Mitinga Chhari and Nafanagar villages.

The initiative is being taken as part of the government’s efforts to implement the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), he said.

Under the initiative, priority will be given to make the villages SDG Villages through poverty alleviation, resolving waterlogging, tackling climate risks, ensuring quality education, improving healthcare and other Sustainable Development Goals, said Dakop UNO Borhan Uddin Mithu.

Other SDGs include reducing maternal and child mortality, expanding safe water and sanitation facilities, women’s empowerment, use of renewable energy, environmental conservation and afforestation, agricultural and livelihood development, and expansion of digital services and technology.

The initiative has generated enthusiasm among residents of Pankhali, who said they had long dreamed of transformation of their village.

They hope the initiative would bring electricity, businesses, improved agriculture, quality education, employment opportunities and better basic services to the village.

Khulna Divisional Commissioner Md Abdullah Harun visited Pankhali on August 6 and spoke with local residents.

He earlier advised officials to extend necessary services and provide all-out cooperation for the village’s development.

Pankhali Union Parishad Chairman Sheikh Sabbir Ahmed welcomed the government initiative, saying the declaration would help improve the socio-economic condition of the coastal village and create new employment opportunities.