State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki, MP. File Photo

DHAKA, April 13, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Planning Md. Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki today said that one of the key commitments of the present government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, is to ensure the generation and dissemination of accurate and reliable data.

He also stressed that no “fictional or manipulated information” will be presented before the people.

Saki made the remarks while addressing the “Seminar on GDP compilation by BBS” organized by the Statistics and Informatics Division (SID) and the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) at the auditorium (ground floor) of the Statistics Bhaban in the capital today.

The seminar was organized under the project “Development of Quarterly Gross Domestic Product (QGDP) and District Gross Domestic Product (DGDP)” being implemented by the National Accounting Wing of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) under the Statistics and Informatics Division.

Secretary of the Statistics and Informatics Division, Aleya Akter, spoke as the special guest.

Highlighting the importance of data in policymaking, Saki said the government is committed to ensuring that development is practical-based and sustainable, bringing tangible improvements to the lives of people.

“If we aim to achieve inclusive and equitable economic growth, data must be at the centre of our efforts,” he added.

He emphasized that reliable data is particularly crucial for a developing economy like Bangladesh, as it provides the foundation for measuring growth, identifying challenges, and formulating effective policies.

The state minister noted that discrepancies between GDP growth and other economic indicators—such as investment and employment—often raise questions about data accuracy. He acknowledged past criticisms in this regard and reiterated that the current government is determined to build a strong, professional, and institutional data system to eliminate such inconsistencies.

Referring to revenue collection, Saki said the government has adopted policies to expand the tax net without increasing tax rates, while addressing leakages in the system. “Improved data will naturally strengthen the tax-GDP ratio and overall fiscal performance,” he added.

He also pointed out structural weaknesses in data collection, particularly the over-reliance on secondary data. “Without strong primary data institutions, there remains a risk of generating misleading estimates,” he said, underscoring the need to strengthen data collection mechanisms at the grassroots level.

The minister stressed the importance of institutional capacity building, digitization of data systems, and ensuring transparency in data publication—while protecting the rights of personal information. He said greater public access to data would encourage scrutiny and enhance accountability.

Highlighting labour market statistics, Saki noted that conventional measures often fail to capture disguised unemployment, particularly in the agricultural sector. “Many individuals may appear employed in statistical terms, but in reality, they remain underemployed,” he said, calling for more nuanced and accurate measurement methods.

He also warned that weak data systems could lead to misinformation and incorrect explanation of economic realities. “Data is power, and its importance is growing. The absence of accurate data strengthens the influence of misinformation,” he said.

The state minister called for coordinated efforts to strengthen all institutions involved in data collection and management, including enhancing professional expertise in statistics and aligning sectoral data systems.

He further emphasized the need for continued public dialogue and interaction to ensure accountability and improve the quality of data-driven decision-making.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment, Saki said, “We want data to reflect reality. Only then can we truly assess our development, identify limitations, and chart the right path forward.”

He concluded by expressing optimism that such initiatives would help build a robust, transparent, and credible statistical system in Bangladesh.

Extending thanks to the organizers for arranging the seminar, the State Minister appreciated the active participation of attendees, noting that the open discussion, questions, and exchange of opinions contributed to an effective and meaningful dialogue.

“This seminar will play an important role in shaping the future of our statistical system,” he said, adding that such public engagements must go beyond routine events and instead foster genuine and critical participation.

Statistics and Informatics Division Secretary Aleya Akter sought cooperation of all stakeholders to extend their cooperation in making data more accurate and reliable adding that the data to be generated from the BBS in the future would be more trustworthy.

Director General (Additional Secretary) of BBS, Mohammad Farhad Siddique, presided over the seminar.
Mohammad Shafiqul Islam, Project Director and Joint Director of the National Accounting Wing, BBS, delivered the welcome speech.

A presentation on GDP compilation by BBS was delivered by Tofayel Ahmed, Deputy Director of the National Accounting Wing of the BBS.

An open discussion session was moderated by Muhammad Atikul Kabir, Director of the National Accounting Wing, BBS.