Massive discrepancies and inconsistencies have been identified in the calculation of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during the previous government's tenure.
The government announced that these anomalies were uncovered through a forensic audit, and the report will be made public shortly following expert review.
Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Minister of State for Planning Md. Jonayed Abdur Rahim Saki shared this information Sunday at a discussion meeting held at the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) auditorium in the capital, on the occasion of National Statistics Day.
At the same time, the government announced that full independence is being granted to the Bureau of Statistics (BBS) to restore the neutrality of data and public trust in statistics.
Speaking as the chief guest, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury emphasized data transparency, stating that work cannot be carried out using questionable statistics as it is akin to deceiving oneself.
Pointing out that data is the government's most critical asset, he affirmed that BBS is being given complete independence.
Clarifying the review of past calculations, the minister stressed that the audit's purpose is not to target anyone personally. He noted that the forensic audit was conducted to delve into past irregularities, not to target individuals, adding that the more data is made open, the more errors and inconsistencies will surface, creating opportunities for correction.
The minister also mentioned that alongside addressing manpower shortages, the government is prioritizing digital infrastructure and the use of artificial intelligence in this tech era.
Adviser to the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, stated that during the previous government's tenure, statistics were weaponized to construct a specific political narrative.
Highlighting significant discrepancies in the list of social safety net beneficiaries alongside GDP data, the minister noted that many of those who genuinely deserved assistance were deprived.
Citing a concrete example of statistical discrepancy, the minister shared that the number of registered vessels in the country was previously shown as a mere 13,000, whereas a recent review revealed the actual number to be 267,000.
He announced that initiatives are underway to establish an integrated "Digital Register" system soon to eliminate such anomalies.
Speaking as a special guest, Minister of State for Planning Md. Jonayed Abdur Rahim Saki stated that without accurate data, it is impossible to understand where the country stands, where it intends to go, or where mistakes are occurring. Hence, initiatives have been launched to rebuild the public's lost faith in statistics.
The State Minister added that effective measures have already been taken to reduce government interference in data. As part of these measures, the BBS now directly releases all crucial economic metrics, including the Consumer Price Index (CPI), without requiring prior approval or signatures from any minister.
Chaired by Md Firoz Sarkar, secretary of the Statistics and Informatics Division, the event opened with welcome remarks by BBS Director General Md Shamimul Huq.
Additionally, Prime Minister's Political Adviser Zahir Uddin Swapan, Dhaka University Professor Syed Shahadat Hossain, and Director General of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) AK Enamul Haque also addressed the meeting.
