The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday suggested Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) release quarterly data on gross domestic product (GDP) instead of existing annual reporting practices.
The visiting mission of the IMF also recommended changing the base year of calculating the consumer price index (CPI) and inflation, sources said.
It inquired about delays in releasing the CPI data for the months of July and September last.
Following the government's request for budgetary support, the IMF team is now visiting Bangladesh to scrutinize the country's macroeconomic, financial and monetary situation.
The mission began on October 26 last and will end on November 9.
Sources said the IMF mission also inquired about the climate financing issues and data relevant to climate consideration in the development works and in the public expenditures.
Although the BBS is providing GDP data on an annual basis until now, many neighbouring countries including India and China release such data on a quarterly basis.
Meanwhile, the IMF is set to suggest lessening dependence on the apparel sector and diversifying the product basket to boost exports, officials said.
In September, earnings from shipments of readymade garments -- the country's main export product -- fell significantly.
The downturn, the industry fears, may continue several months more, lowering foreign-currency earnings and thus adding to pressure on the country's foreign-exchange reserves.
The IMF team is also scheduled to meet with the Energy Ministry's officials on the day where subsidies on energy and power sector, large capacity payments to independent power producers will be discussed, among others.