Government Must Build Public Trust in Data

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said the government will enhance the capacity of the Statistics and Informatics Division and the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), while also increasing the independence and professionalism of data publication. These measures, he said, are aimed at strengthening public trust in government data.

The minister also instructed officials to take initiatives to update the organizational structure and recruitment rules of the BBS to support career development and improve the professionalism of its officials.

He made the remarks on Sunday during an exchange meeting with officials of the Statistics and Informatics Division and the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. The meeting was held at the BBS conference room in Agargaon, Dhaka.

Planning State Minister Junaid Saki, Statistics and Informatics Division Secretary Md. Firoz Sarkar, and acting Director General of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics Md. Mir Hossain attended the meeting.

The minister said the BBS should expand opportunities for research and ensure the widest and most effective use of official statistics in all government policymaking activities.

Following the discussion, he formally inaugurated the Microdata Analysis Lab established at the BBS headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka.

Speaking at the event, the minister said the Microdata Analysis Lab is a secure on-site research facility of the BBS that will allow approved students, researchers, economists, policymakers, and other users to analyze anonymized microdata from national censuses and surveys. He said the lab will play an important role in research, thesis preparation, policy analysis, program evaluation, and evidence-based planning.

“Reliable data is one of the foundations of sound planning and national development. The Microdata Analysis Lab will provide researchers and policymakers with opportunities for deeper analysis in a secure and controlled environment. It will also create new opportunities for researchers and students to conduct analytical studies using government data in innovative ways,” the minister added.