BBS to collect data on June 15-21

The 6th Population and Household Census of Bangladesh was set to begin at 12 midnight on Tuesday as the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) will conduct the digital survey for the first time across the country.

The BBS will collect data from all the households between June 15 and June 21, population census project director Dildar Hossain said at a press meet on Tuesday.

He said the preliminary data will be published within three months after collecting information on the households and individuals.

State Minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam and BBS Director General Tajul Islam were present at the press meet.

The census was supposed to be conducted last year (2021) - first in January and then in October - but deferred due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, the revised schedule last year was missed due to the failure in taking necessary preparation.

Insiders said the delay was due to complexities in procuring some 400,000 tablet PCs or notepads.

Since Bangladesh's first population census in 1974, the BBS has all along been carrying out this flagship survey once in a decade - the second one was done in 1981, followed by three more in 1991, 2001, and 2011.

Mr Dildar said this will be the first digital census as they will start data collection through the Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) system using the GIS-based digital mapping.

He sought media support for creating awareness among the people and making the census successful.

When asked, he said that if any person is left out of the data collection during the week, the person can call a hotline number (09602998877) at the BBS to include himself at the census.

The BBS has already taken up a Tk15.78 billion project for completing the population census work.

kabirhumayan10@gmail.com