DHAKA, Sept 15, 2025 (BSS) - The Independent Taskforce on Strengthening the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) has called for a sweeping reform package to turn BBS into a modern and trusted National Statistical Organization. 

The Independent Taskforce was headed by Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, Executive Chairman of PPRC, and included Mohammad Abdul Wazed, former Director General of BBS; Dr. Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director of CPD; Dr. Mohammad Abdur Razzaque, Chairman of RAPID; Dr. Syed Shahadat Hossain, Professor, ISRT, University of Dhaka; Dr. Mohammad Mainul Islam, Professor, Department of Population Sciences, University of Dhaka; Dr. Atonu Rabbani, Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka; and Dr. Mohammad Yunus, Research Director, BIDS, said a press release of the Ministry of Planning today.

The report submitted to Planning Adviser Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud proposed renaming BBS as Statistics Bangladesh (StatBD) and elevating the position of its head to Chief Statistician, a Special Scale post, to signal a new era of independence and professionalism.
 
A central recommendation is the creation of the Trust and Transparency Council of Statistics (TTCS), a high-level seven-member body that will provide institutional oversight, review annual performance and expenditure audits, and oversee the selection process for the Chief Statistician. This council will be headed by the Planning Advisor.

The Taskforce also calls for amending the Statistics Act of 2013 to legally guarantee StatBD's autonomy in technical decisions, including data validation and release, and to shield official statistics from administrative or political interference. 

Recognizing chronic staffing shortages and structural weaknesses, the report recommends expansion of the organizational structure from eight to sixteen wings and creating 437 new upazila-level posts to strengthen local presence. 

It also proposes unifying cadre and non-cadre services through encadrement to ensure a single, professional career ladder for statisticians.

The report further prioritizes budgetary autonomy, recommending dedicated revenue funding for core surveys and an immediate Taka 50 crore allocation to stabilize annual survey operations. 

To rebuild public trust, the Taskforce advocates for an open data and release policy with pre-announced calendars, simultaneous access for all users, and publication of full metadata and methodological notes.

The report also emphasizes broad-based stakeholder engagement as a pillar of reform. It proposes an Annual Stakeholder Conference to foster dialogue between statisticians, policymakers, civil society, and the private sector. 

Advisory committees for major surveys and internship opportunities for young professionals will ensure that survey design and outputs remain relevant, credible, and inclusive of user perspectives.

Capacity building is another major focus. The Taskforce recommends upgrading the current training centre into a StatBD Training Academy with a structured curriculum for new recruits, mid-career professionals, and senior management. 

A Methodological Advisory Council is also proposed to ensure standardization and consistency across surveys and to harmonize data produced by different agencies. 

The report concludes with a call for immediate formation of a Recommendation Implementation Task Team, chaired by the Planning Adviser, to guide the phased rollout of these reforms in the short and medium term.