Data Dissemination
and
Communication in Bangladesh
Md. Zahidul Hoque Sardar
Joint Director
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics
Outline
 Statistical System of Bangladesh
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Identification and sources of data
Data supply and improvement scenario in Bangladesh
Timeliness and quality of the data
Identification of users and uses of statistical data
Statistical data communication to users
 Consultative support to users in data interpretation and
its application
 Application of UN Fundamental Principle of Official
Statistics and IMF’s SDDS/GDDS
 National Strategy for Development of Statistics (NSDS) in Bangladesh
 Concluding remarks
Statistical system of Bangladesh
 Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) is the National Statistical
Organisation(NSO) of Bangladesh. BBS has seven functional wings to
discharge its activities namely:
 Census Wing
 Agriculture Wing
 Demography and Health Wing
 National Accounting Wing
 Industry and Labour Wing
 Computer Wing
 Statistical Staff Training Institute Wing
 To provide policy decisions National Statistical Council (NSC) with 6
technical committees are providing policy support and technical
backstopping to BBS.
Statistical system of Bangladesh
Contd.
 Recently under the conceptual framework of MAP Bangladesh
has started work on preparation of roadmap for introduction of
NSDS in Bangladesh with the technical assistance of World
Bank and PARIS21.
 Present Government has taken an initiative to develop
Bangladesh into a Digital Bangladesh by 2021.
Identification and sources of data:
Three national censuses, Nine regular surveys, dozen of
ad-hoc surveys and administrative records are the main
sources of official statistics in Bangladesh.
Identification and sources of data:
Regular surveys are:
Household Income and Expenditure survey (HIES)
Sample Vital Registration System (SVRS)
Labor Force survey (LFS)
Agriculture Cluster Surveys
Child Nutrition Survey
Survey of Manufacturing Industries (SMI)
Annual Establishment and Institutions survey
Multiple indicator cluster survey and
Literacy Assessment Survey
It also compiles export and import statistics from shipping documents,
GDP and consumer price index (CPI) on regular basis.
Data supply and improvement scenario in Bangladesh
 A few years back NSO was very strict in supply of raw data to the users
 General practice was to supply published report and CD
 Raw Data was made available on request
 Now, Key findings are hosted in website and also in CD
 As per present practice raw data (unit level data) are supplied to the users on payment
 The raw dataset also include questionnaire, instruction manual and data format
 In case of request made by the researchers and students, data is generally supplied in a
reduced rate or free of cost
 BBS is now planning for wide and easy access of data to the relevant users
 Developed dynamic web along Digital Data Network (DDN) data communication facilities
with 6 Divisional RSO offices
Capability and capacity of the data collectors
BBS is trying to strengthen its capacity with technical assistance of
World Bank and PARIS21
Re-organization of BBS with new field offices in 64 districts and
administrative divisions is approved by the government
7
Development of human resources through degree programs and
specialized training are progressing
Introduction of IMF’s recommended GDDS and SDDS initiated
standardization of statistical methods are progressing
In order to enhance the capacity of the data collectors periodic trainings
are imparted for the data collectors prior to any surveys
Capability and capacity of the data collectors
(Contd.)
 Core surveys-such as HIES data collected in the field level are
entered in the Laptop Computers instantly
 Data are instantly sent to Head Quarter by email from field
 HIES Preliminary Report was ready within 2 months after the
Survey is completed
 A complete Report of HIES was disseminated simultaneously
by publication and at website.
Identification of users and uses of statistical data
 In the proposed NSDS efforts are taken to identify the potential users of
statistics and data needs for MDGs, SFYP, Perspective Plan etc
 The NSC along with the technical committees have been re-organized
to help BBS in identification of users and uses of statistical data
 Consultative meetings with stakeholders are being organized for
identification of users and uses of statistical data
 Senior officials of BBS and the Statistics and Informatics Division are
sent to different countries to see their models and developments
 User-producer dialogue and meeting arranged regularly for data needs
of the users
Statistical data communication to users
For statistical data communication physical network has been established
Three sophisticated ICT labs have been developed for training and to assist in
development of ICT based statistical system in BBS
BBS has a rich printing press at its main building
 The current website of BBS is widely been used by the data users
 The findings of all case surveys and derived (such as inflation, CPI, GDP etc.)
are uploaded in the web site on regular basis
 BBS started to arrange press conference in each month to release CPI and
discuss other important issues
 More interactions with Electronic and Print media are being pursued
Consultative support to users in data interpretation
and its application
 A section for users support along with library facility are
introduced in BBS
 It is functioning well and users are given all sorts of help
by this section
 It is to be furnished more in future
National Strategy for Development of Statistics
(NSDS) in Bangladesh.
BBS has been preparing NSDS and a series of consultation
with users of data have been done at national and sub
national levels
For long term development of BBS feedbacks have been
taken from data users and other stakeholders
Planning template for short term and long term activities
with budget provision has been prepared for all subject
matter wings of BBS
The draft of NSDS is being prepared now and will be
finalised after a national workshop
Concluding remarks:
This
workshop is an excellent opportunity to share
Bangladesh experience with other countries of the world

It is hoped that the workshop will be very useful for
Bangladesh
I take the privilege to thank UNSD and NSCB for arranging
this type of fruitful workshop.
Please visit the website www.bbs.gov.bd