Govt to revamp GDP, inflation calculation methods

Two panels to review key economic indicators

FE REPORT | Published: June 20, 2026 23:43:21

The government is set to overhaul the methodology used to compile key macroeconomic indicators, including the consumer price index (CPI), inflation, wage rate index and gross domestic product (GDP), in a bid to make official statistics more accurate, realistic and aligned with international standards.
As part of the initiative, two expert technical committees will be formed to review existing methodologies and recommend reforms. The government will also reassess previously published economic data of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) to identify any inconsistencies.
State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki disclosed the plan on Saturday while speaking to journalists after a consultation meeting on CPI, inflation, wage rate index and GDP compilation organised by the BBS.
The meeting was attended by Statistics and Informatics Division (SID) Secretary Firoz Sarker, BBS Director General (temporary duty) Mohammad Obaidul Islam, senior SID and BBS officials, representatives from various ministries and divisions, and members of civil society.
The state minister said reliable statistics are the foundation of development planning and sound economic policymaking, highlighting the need to modernise existing methodologies to better reflect changing economic realities.
"GDP and inflation calculations will be made more realistic, acceptable and consistent with global practices," he said, adding that a revised framework would be developed based on inputs from researchers, academics, business leaders and other stakeholders.
Mr Saki also said the government would examine whether previously published economic data contained any discrepancies or distortions.
However, he clarified that the exercise is not intended to assign responsibility or investigate individual lapses, but rather to build a more transparent and credible statistical system for the future.
"The focus is on publishing data based on reality and restoring public confidence in official statistics," he added.
BBS officials informed the meeting that inflation is currently calculated using the prices of 749 goods and services collected from urban and rural markets across the country. The data undergo several layers of verification before final figures are published.
They said the government plans to adopt more advanced and internationally recognised methodologies so that inflation figures better reflect actual consumption patterns and household spending behaviour.
According to BBS officials, the proposed technical committees will conduct a comprehensive review of the existing CPI and GDP compilation systems and submit recommendations for reform. The proposals will subsequently be discussed with stakeholders before final approval.
Economists, researchers and policymakers at the meeting called for amendments to the Statistics Act 2013, more frequent surveys, greater investment in the statistical system, and stronger data collection and analytical capacity.
They observed that such reforms would improve the quality and credibility of Bangladesh's official economic statistics, strengthen development planning and help restore public trust in government data.
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