Data manipulation legacy: A red flag for Bangladesh

In recent years, Bangladesh's economic performance across various sectors has drawn attention from stakeholders and earned recognition from global economic institutions. Bangladesh has made notable progress in social indicators, including reductions in poverty and child mortality rates, as well as increased female participation in the workforce. 

However, the white paper on Bangladesh's economy has highlighted data distortion—an issue previously raised by many experts but rarely emphasised due to restrictions imposed by various pressure groups.

Following the July uprising, new opportunities for institutional structural reforms are emerging. To fully capitalise on them, the issue of data distortion must be properly addressed. Access to public data in Bangladesh is challenging due to complex procedures, bureaucratic hurdles, and the absence of standardised formats. 

Data users face obstacles such as reliance on personal connections, while data providers argue that access is available through formal channels. This exclusionary system favors individuals with established networks, as data remains scattered across multiple platforms with complex access procedures. In fact, many agencies still rely on hard copies.

A data portal was launched in 2016 to aggregate information from various sectors, including health, education, agriculture, tourism, finance, and banking, to address this issue. However, most datasets on the portal are incomplete, and updated data on key metrics remain unavailable.

The lack of standardised formats for publicly shared documents and transparency in data collection methodologies raises concerns about research validity. Limited accessibility to specialised data is also a challenge, as organisations like the Department of Agricultural Marketing possess valuable data but face confidentiality restrictions and require physical visits for access.

One such instance occurred when we calculated the unemployment rate of NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) using data from the Labor Force Survey (LFS) 2022, published by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). The calculation we found following the methodology used by the BBS did not match the statistics they reported. 

However, this type of incident is common, as several bottlenecks and challenges exist regarding data collection and analysis procedures. Inaccuracies and discrepancies in public data, the absence of crucial data on emerging areas, lack of timeliness and clear definitions of public data, dependence on outdated methodologies, lack of accountability, inadequate institutional, technical, and system capacity, and loopholes in the system are just a few examples.

Additionally, a single dataset is often reported and maintained by multiple agencies using different methodologies, with no clear directive on which dataset should be used for specific purposes. The lack of transparency in methodology, refusal to take responsibility for errors, and unwillingness to be held accountable all contribute to diminishing accountability within these agencies.

The Official Secrets Act, 1923, imposes significant barriers to accessing data, creating challenges for researchers seeking information for government projects. 

Manipulation of economic data to present a favourable image is a common occurrence in developing countries like ours. In a field survey conducted last year, the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) found food inflation to be around 15%, contradicting the report from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), another central body responsible for collecting government data.

Bangladesh is at a crossroads, with its LDC graduation and the deadline for achieving SDG goals both approaching. The country also has the golden opportunity of yielding the benefits of its demographic dividend. To make this work, we need strong regulations to shape macroeconomic policy, and the first step is to ensure the collection and usage of accurate data.

Moreover, there is a necessity for regular updates of publicly available data, which demands collaboration between policymakers, regulatory organisations, and researchers. 

Sometimes, data is misinterpreted on mainstream and social media platforms, which raises questions about the role of key stakeholders. Also, the effectiveness of any policy depends on the role of local politicians or administrators, which is often hindered by their understanding of data.

In this regard, policymakers must disclose the detailed methodology used in calculating statistics. There might be a guideline of the methodology that will be helpful for the stakeholders, like journalists or non-technical persons, to understand the data representations.

Often, we notice delays in the publication of data, which impacts the formulation of national policies. There should be a strict timeline for publishing data, and the relevant authorities must ensure effective implementation of this rule. Also, there is a lack of transparency in recruitment, which affects the placement of capable individuals in agencies responsible for data maintenance and management.

Most importantly, collaboration among these agencies is required to eradicate red tape of bureaucracy from the system. 

Dr Mohammad Abdul Hannan Pradhan is a Professor in the Department of Economics at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet.

Sumaiya Chowdhury and Sayed Arafat Zubayer are students of the Department of Economics at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.