Reshaping national statistical body

Data, census, and statistics are indispensable for effective policy-making and prioritization. They provide evidence for decision-making, inform economic forecasting by identifying future trends and resource needs, and support development monitoring and evaluation of past actions.

A government-formed task force has made recommendations to enhance the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) by improving data collection, timely survey completion, and publication efficiency, with a specific focus on generating high-quality, authentic data. It also suggested renaming BBS as Statistics Bangladesh (StatBD) in an effort to establish the national statistical body as an independent institution.

This reform initiative is highly commendable, as it aims to enable the organization to operate neutrally and with full professional excellence. We also appreciate a key recommendation from the task force: that this central repository of national data be led by a highly qualified professional serving as Chief Statistician, appointed by a council chaired by the Planning Adviser.

The country is taking meaningful steps to restore the institutional image that was diminished under previous administrations, and to restructure the organization by overhauling its regulatory framework and making it more accessible and people-friendly.

We hope the recommendations will be implemented soon, and that StatBD will move forward with a renewed commitment to producing reliable data and enriching its national repositories.

Md. Refatul Hossain

Additional Director (retd.)

Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE)

Faridpur Region.