Dhaka: The government has established an eight-member expert taskforce aimed at strengthening the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) by evaluating the quality, transparency, and accessibility of the data it produces. The taskforce is headed by Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, Executive Chairman of the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC). It will engage with relevant stakeholders to develop specific, actionable recommendations to enhance the capacity of the BBS.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the taskforce includes former Director General of the BBS Dr. Mohammad Abdul Wazed, Executive Director of the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Dr. Fahmida Khatun, Chairman of the Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID) Dr. Mohammad Abdur Razzaque, Professor of the Institute of Statistical Research and Training (ISRT) of Dhaka University and President of the Bangladesh Statistical Association Dr. Syed Shahadat Hossain, Professor of the Department of Population Sciences of Dhaka University Dr. Mohammad Moinul Islam, Professor of the Department of Economics of Dhaka University Dr. Atanu Rabbani, and Research Director of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) Dr. Mohammad Yunus. This was announced in an order issued by the Statistics and Informatics Division.
The taskforce is tasked with formulating recommendations on the quality, accounting system, and transparency of all statistical activities of the BBS. It will review several issues to formulate specific work rules for the institution’s survey management, including establishing a core survey list funded by the revenue sector. Additionally, it will propose mandatory periodicity and a pre-determined release calendar for these surveys.
The taskforce will determine the process for forming an advisory committee with national-level experts on relevant subjects in conducting various surveys, preparing accounts of national income and inflation, among other tasks. It will empower the head of the institution to publish regular reports on the results of various surveys, especially inflation and national income growth.
Moreover, the taskforce will make recommendations for coordinating and harmonizing BBS surveys and publications with those conducted by other organizations under different ministries. It will also suggest ways to facilitate citizens’ access to the statistical repository produced by the BBS, transforming statistics into a ‘public good.’
The taskforce will review the draft amendment to the Statistics Act, 2013, as well as the existing organizational structure and human resources of the BBS. It will formulate recommendations to upgrade the institution into a strong and effective national statistical agency. The taskforce is expected to submit a full report to the Planning Adviser within 90 days, with periodic updates on progress from the chairman.
The Statistics and Informatics Division will provide the necessary secretarial and infrastructural support to the taskforce in carrying out its tasks.