Resilient future through sustainable urban development in Bangladesh: UNOPS

UNOPS Bangladesh hosted the 15th edition of its flagship dialogue series, SDG Café, under the theme “Resilient Future through Sustainable Urban Development in Bangladesh,” bringing together a diverse group of policymakers, professionals, academics, civil society representatives and international partners.

UNOPS, the United Nations Office for Project Services that implements humanitarian and development projects for the UN System and other partners, during a session held on Wednesday focused on advancing Sustainable Development Goal 11, making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

As one of the most rapidly urbanising countries in South Asia, Bangladesh faces an urgent need to address the growing complexities of urban development.

Climate-induced risks, ranging from flooding and cyclones to heatwaves are increasingly converging with challenges of unplanned growth, inadequate infrastructure and deepening socio-economic disparities.

This confluence calls for bold policy frameworks, innovative urban design, and strong institutional cooperation to build future-ready, resilient cities.

The event featured a keynote presentation by Adil Mohammed Khan, Prof of Urban and Regional Planning at Jahangirnagar University and President of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners.

Khan outlined the structural hurdles in current urban systems and emphasised the need for integrated planning, participatory governance and climate-adaptive infrastructure to secure sustainable urban futures.

The interactive format of SDG Café 15 encouraged robust dialogue among participants, covering themes such as affordable housing, slum upgrading, sustainable transport, inclusive green spaces, and innovative financing mechanisms.

By bringing together voices from across the urban development spectrum, the roundtable fostered a dynamic exchange of ideas and actionable solutions.

In his opening remarks, Sudhir Muralidharan, country manager of UNOPS Bangladesh and Bhutan, emphasised the importance of collaboration - “Urban resilience is not an abstract goal—it is a daily imperative for millions of Bangladeshis. At UNOPS, we believe partnerships, local leadership, and scalable innovation are key to reimagining our cities for the future. Today’s dialogue reaffirms our collective resolve to make SDG 11 a reality.”

The session concluded with a forward-looking discussion on how multi-stakeholder engagement can inform national and local urban strategies.

Participants expressed a shared commitment to accelerating the implementation of SDG 11 through knowledge exchange, partnership building and context-specific policy recommendations.

By convening thought leaders and practitioners around critical development priorities, UNOPS continues to support Bangladesh’s journey toward a more sustainable and equitable future.