Dhaka: The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), under the Statistics and Informatics Division (SID) of the Ministry of Planning, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to strengthen statistical capacity, modernize data management, and enhance evidence-based policymaking in Bangladesh.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the signing ceremony was held in Dhaka with the Secretary of the Statistics and Informatics Division Aleya Akter as the Chief Guest and Charles Challan, Director of South Asia at UNOPS, as the Guest of Honour. The MoU was signed by Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, Director General of BBS, and Sudhir Muralidharan, Country Manager of UNOPS for Bangladesh and Bhutan.
Under this MoU, BBS and UNOPS will collaborate in several key areas, including statistical capacity building, advanced data management and informatics, use of geospatial data and technologies, joint data collection and analysis, support for SDG monitoring, and knowledge sharing through training, workshops, and joint publications.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Guest emphasized the importance of reliable and timely data for effective planning and implementation of development programs. He noted that the partnership will create synergy between BBS and UNOPS, introducing modern tools and practices into the national statistical system.
The Director General of BBS expressed gratitude to UNOPS for their commitment and highlighted that the collaboration would accelerate BBS’s modernization efforts, contributing to achieving Bangladesh’s Sustainable Development Goals. The MoU will remain valid for five years and serve as a framework for future project agreements between BBS and UNOPS.
The Director of UNOPS South Asia stated that UNOPS has been supporting Bangladesh in accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The new collaboration with BBS aims to strengthen the use of high-quality data and statistics, essential for evidence-based policymaking and planning development initiatives at various levels.
By combining UNOPS’ technical expertise with BBS’ statistical mandate, the partnership seeks to ensure that reliable data drives effective decision-making across the country.