Bridging the Last-Mile Gap: Stakeholders Explore Inclusive Solutions at MantaConnect Event in Dhaka

Dhaka: Bringing together senior government officials, development practitioners and community-focused organisations, a high-level stakeholder event on “Solving the Last-Mile Access Challenge Together: Lessons from the MantaConnect Project” was held at Six Seasons Hotel, Dhaka.

The event provided a platform for stakeholders to reflect on the challenges faced by communities living in hard-to-reach areas and explore practical, inclusive approaches to ensuring their access to essential public and social services.

The programme was attended as the Special Guest by Dr. Md. Faridul Islam, Former Secretary, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, and President of the Bangladesh Private Sector Skills Development Foundation (BPSSD Foundation).

Among the distinguished guests and participants were Ms. Sarah L. Taylor, Team Leader, The Asia Foundation; Mst. Farida Sultana, Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Barishal Sadar Upazila; Ahmadul Haque, Additional Secretary, Administration Division of Offices and Agencies, Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment; and Newaz Hossain Chowdhury, Joint Secretary (Admin), Medical Education & Family Welfare Division.

From the Last Mile to Inclusive Development

A central theme of the event was the reality that many communities remain outside the reach of conventional service-delivery systems because of geographical, economic and social barriers.

Drawing lessons from the MantaConnect Project, participants discussed how innovative approaches can help connect underserved communities with essential services and opportunities.

Particular attention was given to the Manta community in Barishal, a river-dependent community that faces unique challenges in accessing healthcare, education, financial services, social protection and government support.

The discussions explored how community-based initiatives, digital solutions and stronger institutional coordination can help overcome these barriers and create more inclusive pathways to development.

Connecting Government, Communities and Development Partners

The event highlighted the importance of bringing different stakeholders together rather than addressing last-mile challenges through isolated interventions.

Government institutions, local administration, development organisations, financial institutions, technology partners and community representatives all have complementary roles to play in building sustainable solutions.

Participants exchanged experiences on how community participation, digital connectivity, financial inclusion, public services and capacity-building initiatives can be better integrated to respond to the needs of underserved populations.

Lessons from MantaConnect

The MantaConnect Project has created an opportunity to explore community-centred approaches to inclusion and resilience. The initiative has placed emphasis on understanding the real-life challenges of the Manta community and developing solutions that are relevant to their circumstances.

The stakeholder event provided an opportunity to reflect on these experiences and consider how lessons from the project could inform wider approaches to reaching other marginalised and geographically isolated communities across Bangladesh.

A Shared Commitment to Last-Mile Inclusion

The participation of senior government officials and development-sector representatives demonstrated the importance of cross-sector collaboration in addressing last-mile challenges.

The discussions emphasized that technology alone cannot solve the access gap. Sustainable inclusion requires community engagement, responsive institutions, awareness, capacity development, appropriate technology and continued coordination among stakeholders.

Dr. Md. Faridul Islam’s participation further highlighted the importance of connecting policy-level experience with community-focused development initiatives and strengthening cooperation between government, development partners and other actors.

The event concluded with a shared understanding that ensuring equitable access to services requires continued dialogue, innovative thinking and coordinated action.

Held at Six Seasons Hotel, Dhaka, the MantaConnect stakeholder event therefore served as an important platform for sharing experiences, identifying practical lessons and exploring new pathways toward a more inclusive, connected and people-centred development approach in Bangladesh.