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.