Taskforce working to keep BBS free from political interference: Hossain Zillur Rahman

A government-appointed taskforce is exploring ways to safeguard the country's statistical system from political interference and will publish its recommendations next month, said Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, head of the taskforce and executive chairman of the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC).

"The issue of political interference is a serious concern. We will provide clear recommendations so that the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) can work independently. We will also analyse instances of past interference to build a stronger and more credible national statistics agency," he told reporters while speaking at a media briefing held at the Parishankhyan Bhaban in Agargaon, Dhaka today (16 July).

Formed in May 2025, the eight-member expert taskforce was set up by the government to meet the rising national and international demand for credible, accessible, and high-quality data – essential for policymaking, investment, and development planning.

Dr Zillur, who was also a former adviser to the caretaker government, emphasised that the taskforce is not preparing a theoretical document. "Rather, we will present specific and actionable recommendations after analysing practical problems."

He said the recommendations will focus on institutional reform, manpower coordination, defining the scope of work, and ensuring easier access to information. The possibility of introducing a one-stop service is also under consideration.

He further said the taskforce has already identified several issues, including staffing shortages, operational limitations, and bottlenecks in data release.

"For instance, sometimes surveys are ready but are delayed simply because a chief guest is unavailable to attend the launch. That must change," he added, noting that the taskforce will propose a fixed calendar for the timely publication of official data.

To strengthen the BBS's capacity, the taskforce will recommend establishing a dedicated training academy. "Nearly 50% of BBS positions remain vacant, severely hampering its operations," he said. Solving this manpower crisis is another key area under consideration.

Moving away from 'project culture'

Dr Zillur also criticised what he called a growing "project culture" within BBS operations. 

"Up to 2006–07, BBS activities were funded through the revenue budget. Since then, the agency has become almost entirely project-dependent, which increases the risks of waste and inefficiency," he explained.

To address this, the taskforce will propose a list of core surveys to be financed through the regular budget. However, he acknowledged that surveys in areas like climate change may still require project-based funding.

"One of our biggest challenges is the lack of appreciation for the importance of statistics," he said. "Yet reliable data is vital to build a competitive economy and to design effective social policies."

The 2013 Statistics Act is currently under revision. On this, Dr Zillur said, "An independent Statistics Commission must have genuine autonomy. Our focus is to turn BBS into a professional organisation."

He stressed that critical data – such as GDP growth or inflation rates – must be protected from manipulation. "We must ensure data integrity," he said.

"Our goal is to offer implementable recommendations, not paper-based wish lists," Dr Zillur said while summing up the taskforce's goals.

Other members of the taskforce present at the event included Dr Mohammad Abdul Wazed, former director general, BBS; Dr Fahmida Khatun, executive director, Centre for Policy Dialogue; Dr Mohammad Mainul Islam, professor, Population Sciences, Dhaka University; Dr Atanu Rabbani, professor, Economics, Dhaka University; and Dr Mohammad Yunus, research director, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies.