Govt moves to restore public trust by expanding access to national data

The government is taking initiatives to make national
statistical data more accessible to researchers, academics, and policymakers in
order to rebuild public trust in official statistics and strengthen
evidence-based decision-making.
The initiative was highlighted
today (22 June) during a stakeholder awareness workshop on the newly
established Microdata Analysis Lab of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics
(BBS), held at the Ecnec conference room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka.
Speaking as the chief guest, Planning
State Minister Zonayed Saki said the government is committed to enhancing
transparency in data collection and dissemination to address long-standing
public skepticism over official statistics.
He acknowledged that doubts regarding the accuracy of key indicators such as
poverty rates, population figures, and income data have weakened confidence in
national statistics.
He said, "Reliable data is
essential for measuring progress, evaluating policy outcomes, and making
necessary adjustments. The government wants to ensure transparency in data and
statistics so that researchers, universities, development partners, and
citizens can independently analyse national realities."
He further noted that without
credible baseline data, it becomes difficult to accurately assess whether
government initiatives are improving living standards, reducing poverty, or
strengthening social protection programmes.
The workshop was organised under
the CBSSP project supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency
(KOICA), with participation from government agencies, universities, research
institutions, development partners, and media representatives.
Officials said the new Microdata
Analysis Lab will provide authorised users with access to comprehensive census
and survey microdata in a secure environment. Previously, only limited portions
of such data were made publicly available.
The BBS said that the facility has
been designed to increase data accessibility while ensuring confidentiality and
personal privacy protection.
"Researchers will be able to
analyse anonymised data within the lab, but raw datasets cannot be taken
outside", it added.
Only approved outputs from a review
committee such as tables, graphs, code, and analytical results will be shared
with users.
The state minister said, "The
government's goal is not only to improve transparency but also to encourage
independent research to strengthen public policy and accountability."
He added that wider access to
quality data would enable universities, students, and research institutions to
conduct in-depth analysis, supporting national development planning.
However, he noted that online
access to sensitive microdata is not yet possible due to confidentiality
concerns, though access may be gradually expanded in the future as security
systems improve.
Md Firoz Sarkar, secretary of the Statistics
and Informatics Division, described the lab as an important milestone in
modernising Bangladesh's statistical services, emphasising clear operational
procedures, transparent application processes, and effective user support.
Mohammad Obaidul Islam, acting
director general of BBS, said the lab will create a secure and well-governed
framework for students, economists, researchers, and policymakers to use
government microdata effectively.
Jihoon Kim, country director of
Koica in Bangladesh, said ongoing collaboration with BBS is helping modernise
the country's statistical infrastructure, including data platforms, data
warehouses, and internationally standardised data dissemination systems.
Officials said that by 2027, BBS
plans to introduce additional services such as a microdata catalogue, metadata
system, SDMX-based data publication, and an online application facility, which
will further simplify access to government data.
The government expects that the
initiative will encourage high-quality research, strengthen evidence-based
policymaking, and ultimately help rebuild public trust in official statistics.















