THE country will observe the fourth World Statistics Day on October 20. This year’s theme, ‘Driving change with quality statistics and data for all’, stresses the crucial role of reliable information in shaping policies and building trust. Since 2010, the day has been observed every five years by the United Nations Statistical Division and national statistical organisations across the world to raise awareness about the importance of trustworthy data in evidence-based decision-making. Bangladesh will also mark its National Statistics Day 2025 on the same date.
Official statistics are a public good, produced and maintained with taxpayers’ money. Every citizen has the right to access and use this data properly, without distorting its essence. State organisations mandated to produce and disseminate statistics have the responsibility to ensure accuracy, completeness, consistency, relevance and reliability. These must be delivered on time, with increasing transparency, accountability and as much disaggregation as possible; these are the hallmarks of quality data.
Quality data is indispensable for informed decision-making at every level of society and the democratic state. Data users — citizens, development planners and policymakers, educators, researchers, business leaders, investors, social changemakers and development partners — require high-quality information to understand the realities of rapidly changing social and economic dynamics.
In today’s information-driven society, data and statistics have become integral to development. Technological advances now offer unprecedented opportunities to produce quality data. At the same time, the challenges posed by big data and artificial intelligence are growing rapidly. How prepared we are to face these challenges should be a major concern for a country like ours.
The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics was established soon after the Liberation War and has been responsible for producing official statistics since 1974. Our statistical system is centralised. The National Statistical Act was enacted in 2013. As the national statistical organisation, BBS follows international standards, rules and regulations, alongside the National Statistical Act and related policies, to conduct statistical activities more effectively.
In addition to carrying out regular censuses and surveys, the statistics bureau is responsible for producing 105 of the 246 indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals in Bangladesh. It provides support and guidance to ministries and agencies and authenticates data produced by other systems for the remaining indicators.
Over the past 50 years, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics has worked to develop official statistics that meet international standards. Yet, the growing demand for quality data has not been fully met. It is now time to examine where the gaps lie. According to the Statistical Performance Indicators produced by the World Bank, bureau’s overall performance improved significantly in 2020. Bangladesh ranks highly in terms of data use and data products but lags behind in data services, data sources and data infrastructure. These areas require urgent attention.
Data is not merely numbers; it is a composite issue shaped by political will, state policy and policy priorities for an equitable society and accountable governance. It deserves the same importance as other essential public goods and services produced by the state.
The Independent Taskforce on the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, formed by the current interim government, has recommended restructuring Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics to ensure autonomy and oversight, enhance capacity and trust and increase funding. Implementing these recommendations without delay will improve the bureau’s service delivery.
At the operational level, the bureau’s institutional capacity must be strengthened through appropriate resource allocation, human resource development, good governance, adoption of advanced technologies, reduction of bureaucratic dominance, horizontal and vertical expansion and better-equipped field offices with adequate manpower and facilities, on par with equivalent government institutions. Crucially, information systems capable of generating, capturing and storing real-time data across thematic areas — agriculture, environment and climate, socioeconomics, health, education and more — must be developed and implemented if Bangladesh is to meet contemporary demands.
Given the challenges of globalisation, big data and AI, the relevant authorities including the Ministry of Planning, the Statistics and Informatics Division, the Finance Division and the Cabinet Division, must prioritise investment in capacity development. This includes developing data analysts, strengthening research, evaluation and monitoring and improving communication and data-sharing among stakeholders. Ensuring data for everyone also depends on public awareness and data literacy.
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics must take large-scale initiatives to reach wider sections of the population with data and demonstrate how it can be used to solve real-life problems. For Bangladesh, ‘driving change’ should begin with identifying the root problems. And a democratic government is essential for any reform initiative to succeed.
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Krishna Gayen is a senior research fellow at Bangladesh Institute of Governance and Management and former director general of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
