Manipulation of BBS data won't be tolerated: Saki

Sate Minister for Planning Zonayed Saki on Monday said any form of manipulation or distortion of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) data would not be tolerated as the government seeks to ensure accurate and reliable statistics for the public.

The gross domestic product (GDP) data, which is very important for a country, would not be allowed to be manipulated, he said while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar held at the BBS in the city.

The junior planning minister asked the BBS to produce reliable and accurate data for users.

The programme was organised under a project on quarterly and district-level GDP development implemented by the National Accounting Wing of the BBS.

BBS Director General Mohammad Farhad Siddique presided over the event. Statistics and Informatics Division Secretary Aleya Akter and Project Director Mohammad Shafiqul Islam also spoke.

Laying emphasis on the importance of data integrity, Mr Saki said sustainable economic development depends on accurate and transparent information.

He said that ensuring consistency across sectors would help reduce misinformation and eliminate data discrepancies.

Referring to past controversies over GDP figures, the state minister said the government is now focused on restoring confidence by presenting correct and dependable data.

Maintaining credibility in official statistics remains a top priority for effective policy planning and economic management, he added.

On revenue, Mr Saki said it is possible to increase collections by lowering tax rates while broadening the tax base.

Bringing up the issue of confusion about the increase in employment in the agricultural sector, he said that in many cases it is not real employment, but may be a reflection of disguised unemployment.

In the seminar, speakers discussed the methodological development of district-wise GDP and quarterly GDP estimation.

They said if these indicators are improved, it will be possible to understand the country's regional disparity, production structure and economic dynamics more clearly.

Statistics and Informatics Division Secretary Aleya Akter said citizens also have a responsibility to provide accurate information. On many occasions, people do not give accurate information themselves, making it difficult to build a reliable database.