Workshop on the organization of Workshop on the organization of National Statistical Systems and user-producer National Statistical Systems and user-producer

relations for countries in South Asian”relations for countries in South Asian”Colombo, Sri LankaColombo, Sri Lanka

21-24 July, 200821-24 July, 2008

Country paper presented ByCountry paper presented By

Md. Abul Kashem, Deputy DGMd. Abul Kashem, Deputy DGSM Shawkat Ali, Director SM Shawkat Ali, Director Salima Sultana, Deputy DirectorSalima Sultana, Deputy Director Bangladesh Bureau of StatisticsBangladesh Bureau of Statistics

Ministry of PlanningMinistry of PlanningBangladeshBangladesh

Introduction:Introduction:

In August 1974, Bangladesh Bureau of In August 1974, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) was created by Merging four Statistics (BBS) was created by Merging four statistical agencies, namely, the Bureau of statistical agencies, namely, the Bureau of Statistics, the Bureau ofStatistics, the Bureau of Agriculture statistics, the Agriculture statistics, the Agriculture census Commission and the Agriculture census Commission and the population census Commission. BBS is the lone population census Commission. BBS is the lone national statistical organization (NSO) responsible national statistical organization (NSO) responsible to collect, compile, disseminate and publish to collect, compile, disseminate and publish official statistics.official statistics.

Director General

Deputy Director General

DirectorCensusWing

DirectorComputer Wing

Director Demography

& HealthWing

DirectorTraining Institute

DirectorAgriculture

Wing

DirectorIndustry& Labor

Wing

Joint Director

FA & MIS Wing

DirectorNational

AccountingWing

RegionalStatistical

Officer(23 Regions)

UpzilaStatistical

Officer(476 Upzila )

Organizational set up of BBS:Organizational set up of BBS:

Main functions of BBS:Main functions of BBS:

(a)(a) To organize and conduct national censusesTo organize and conduct national censuses(b)(b) To organize and conduct statistical surveysTo organize and conduct statistical surveys (c)(c) To collect, compile, analyze, disseminate and To collect, compile, analyze, disseminate and

publish statistics of all sectors of the economy publish statistics of all sectors of the economy for meeting needs of development planning, for meeting needs of development planning, research and decision makingresearch and decision making

(d)(d) To conduct research and develop standardsTo conduct research and develop standards(e)(e) To compile and publish information on national To compile and publish information on national

accountsaccounts

Improving co-ordination in National Statistical Improving co-ordination in National Statistical System:System:

Existing ways of improving coordination:Existing ways of improving coordination:11. . Included the members of important public Included the members of important public

departments, autonomous bodies, research departments, autonomous bodies, research and professional societies, technical, steering and professional societies, technical, steering and coordination committee on censuses and and coordination committee on censuses and surveys also the National Statistical Council.surveys also the National Statistical Council.

2. For users- Producers interaction, seminar cum 2. For users- Producers interaction, seminar cum expert consultation are held before each of the expert consultation are held before each of the census and survey and also for the census and survey and also for the dissemination of the census and survey dissemination of the census and survey results. results.

Future Plan:Future Plan:1. 1. To increase co-ordination among different To increase co-ordination among different

ministries, agencies, and others arranging more ministries, agencies, and others arranging more seminars, workshops and like these.seminars, workshops and like these.

2. To strengthening NSC.2. To strengthening NSC.3. To establish offices to all districts (field level)3. To establish offices to all districts (field level)4. Strengthening capacity building of BBS.4. Strengthening capacity building of BBS.Key issues:Key issues: 1. Lack of adequate manpower of BBS at field 1. Lack of adequate manpower of BBS at field

level.level. 2.Absence of active cooperation among the 2.Absence of active cooperation among the

various concerned agenciesvarious concerned agencies 3.Lack of logistic and technical facilities of BBS.3.Lack of logistic and technical facilities of BBS.

Autonomy of National Statistical offices:Autonomy of National Statistical offices:Existing situation:Existing situation: BBS is the only National Statistical Institution BBS is the only National Statistical Institution

responsible for collecting, compiling and responsible for collecting, compiling and disseminating statistical data of all the sectors disseminating statistical data of all the sectors of Bangladesh economy to meet and provide of Bangladesh economy to meet and provide the data-needs of the users for planning and the data-needs of the users for planning and formulating policies by the government.formulating policies by the government.

Key issues:Key issues: 1. Biasness of data 1. Biasness of data 2. Undesirable pressure2. Undesirable pressure 3.More time required3.More time required

How can we increase user engagement?How can we increase user engagement?

Existing ways:Existing ways:

(1)(1) A well functioning and data based Website.A well functioning and data based Website.(2)(2) Research oriented and resourceful library.Research oriented and resourceful library.(3)(3) Regular publication of key Statistical reports.Regular publication of key Statistical reports.(4)(4) Increased cooperation through seminar cum expert Increased cooperation through seminar cum expert

consultation are held before each census and consultation are held before each census and survey and also for the dissemination of the census survey and also for the dissemination of the census and survey results.and survey results.

(5)(5) BBS working for data archiving of all major BBS working for data archiving of all major censuses and surveyscensuses and surveys

6.6. Networking system is used in head quarter for Networking system is used in head quarter for users engagementusers engagement

7.7. Citizen charter is existent.Citizen charter is existent.

Future Plan:Future Plan:(1)(1) Arranging more seminars and workshops,Arranging more seminars and workshops,(2)(2) Strengthening data Archive, library, Web site,Strengthening data Archive, library, Web site,(3)(3) Strengthening networking in field level,Strengthening networking in field level,(4)(4) Quality outputs released in a timely manner.Quality outputs released in a timely manner.(5)(5) Creating statistical cells in important ministries.Creating statistical cells in important ministries.

Key Issues:Key Issues:(1)(1) Financial supportFinancial support(2)(2) Lacking of adequate human resources and Lacking of adequate human resources and

logistics support. logistics support.

How useful are Administrative data for How useful are Administrative data for Statistical purposes?Statistical purposes?

Existing ways:Existing ways: BBS collects administrative data from Government BBS collects administrative data from Government

accounts, custom records on Import and Exports, accounts, custom records on Import and Exports, Forest deportment, Bangladesh Road and Transport Forest deportment, Bangladesh Road and Transport Authority, Bangladesh Bank, Agriculture Ministry, Authority, Bangladesh Bank, Agriculture Ministry, Fisheries department, Meteorology and so on.Fisheries department, Meteorology and so on.

Future plan:Future plan: More usage of these types of data in different More usage of these types of data in different

surveys.surveys.

Key issues :Key issues :

(1) Incomplete and or inaccurate data and (1) Incomplete and or inaccurate data and sometimes biased.sometimes biased.

(2) Some times misreporting of data occurred.(2) Some times misreporting of data occurred.

(3) Data collection system may not be efficient. (3) Data collection system may not be efficient. (4) Concepts & definitions may not be (4) Concepts & definitions may not be

International standard .International standard .

Role of National Statistical Offices in Role of National Statistical Offices in Analysis including the provisions of micro Analysis including the provisions of micro data:data:Existing:Existing: Along with presentation of data, BBS Along with presentation of data, BBS analyzes the sample surveys and censuses at analyzes the sample surveys and censuses at unit level data on limited basis. In every census, unit level data on limited basis. In every census, separate analytical report is also included.separate analytical report is also included.

Future Plan:Future Plan:Due to increasing demand by the policy Due to increasing demand by the policy makers/users, the organization should plan to makers/users, the organization should plan to analyze micro data on different censuses.analyze micro data on different censuses.

Develop thematic core groups in health, Develop thematic core groups in health, environment, gender etc. to build capacity for environment, gender etc. to build capacity for need-driven analysis of policy planning.need-driven analysis of policy planning.

Key issues:Key issues:(1) Need 0f capacity building including in specific (1) Need 0f capacity building including in specific areas.areas.(2) Constraint extra resources for separate (2) Constraint extra resources for separate analysis of micro data.analysis of micro data.(3) Absence of web-based data repository(3) Absence of web-based data repository

Adjusting the national Statistical Adjusting the national Statistical Offices to emerging Statistical issueOffices to emerging Statistical issue

It is quite challenging issue to provide empirical It is quite challenging issue to provide empirical evidence by producing the temporal trend of climate evidence by producing the temporal trend of climate change.change.

IssueIssue: : 11. . Need to set up a group of personnel with proper training to Need to set up a group of personnel with proper training to disseminate the data with the help of international statistical disseminate the data with the help of international statistical partner organizations.partner organizations.2.2. Regional level resource centre can be set up for appending Regional level resource centre can be set up for appending and analyzing data.and analyzing data.