Speakers at a policy dialogue yesterday called for building a comprehensive database on the excluded people to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals' overarching aim of leaving no-one behind.

They also urged the government to form an inter-ministerial coordination cell to locate the excluded.

The dialogue on "Leave No One Behind: Sustainable Development Goals, 2030" was jointly organised by ADD International, Christian Aid, DanChurchAid and HelpAge International, at The Daily Star Centre.

Khushi Kabir, coordinator of Nijera Kari, said excluded persons were found everywhere. "Many of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) belong to the excluded group. Of them, indigenous people are more excluded and indigenous women the most excluded."

Criticising a special provision of the proposed Child Marriage Restraint Act-2016, which allows marriage of girls below 18 under "special circumstances", she said if the bill was passed, it would seriously conflict to the SDGs.

Country Director of iDE Bangladesh

Deepak Khadka said if the vulnerable people got access to income-generating facilities, the scenario would change.

Ferdous Ara Begum, a trustee of HelpAge International, urged inclusion of the elderly in the target group.

Suggesting collecting of data of the excluded including the dalits, widows, elderly, and physically challenged, she said interventions should be based on the data.

"Among the women left behind, there are sub-sections of the indigenous, dalit and elderly who never are highlighted,” said Rabeya Sultana, an adviser of HelpAge International.

Professor of Dhaka University Dr Mahbuba Nasreen said, "There are many remote areas where people do not go to medical facilities because of long distances. Many mothers give birth at open fields. "She stressed the need for taking healthcare services to these marginalised people.

Professor of Dhaka University Dr ASM Atiqur Rahman, fellow of Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) Dwijen Mallick, and executive director of WAVE Foundation Mohsin Ali also addressed the dialogue, moderated by country director of Christian Aid Shakeb Nabi.