(BSS) - State Minister for Planning Md Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki today said the government has taken a series of reform initiatives to restore public confidence in official statistics, ensure transparency in data publication and make statistical information accessible to all.

"The government does not want any distortion of data. We have a clear plan for Bangladesh, and we want to move forward based on reliable information, measure our progress and correct mistakes wherever necessary," he said.

Saki made the remarks while addressing as a special guest at a discussion marking the National Statistics Day 2026 at the BBS Auditorium in the capital today.

Saki said reliable statistics were indispensable to effective policymaking, development planning and monitoring progress, as policymakers needed accurate information to understand the country`s actual situation, set priorities and assess the effectiveness of their interventions.

After assuming office, he said the government placed economic and social transformation alongside democratic transition among its major priorities.

To translate these commitments into action, the Planning Ministry prepared a Five-Year Strategic Framework reflecting the five key pillars of the government`s proposed socioeconomic transformation, he said.

"Without accurate information, we cannot properly determine where we stand, where we want to go, what steps we need to take or whether we are making progress in the right direction," the state minister said.

He identified restoring public confidence in official statistics as one of the government`s foremost challenges, referring to concerns over the credibility of statistical information published during the previous fallen government.

As part of the effort to address these concerns, the government has initiated a forensic audit of previously published economic data, particularly the methodology and calculations used to estimate the country`s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), in collaboration with the Planning Ministry`s research and statistics wing, will conduct the research, he said.

Saki said the research had identified significant inconsistencies in the previous GDP estimation process, underscoring the need to examine the figures against actual economic conditions and establish a credible evidence base.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has given clear instructions against any distortion of statistical information, he said.

"Any distortion of data will lead us to wrong decisions and turn our development efforts into wasted efforts. We need reliable statistics to understand our actual position, assess our achievements and make necessary corrections," he said.

Highlighting reforms in statistical data publication, Saki said the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) had introduced a more direct and technology-based system for publishing the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Under the new system, field-level data collectors use Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI), and the information goes directly into the database for publication. The process no longer requires the minister`s signature or prior approval, he said.

"This is an important institutional change. Statistical information is now being published directly from the database, leaving no scope for political intervention in the publication process," he said.

He added that the government was utilising modern technologies to facilitate real-time data collection and ensure the timely publication of statistical information.

On access to official data, the state minister said the government had revised the relevant policy to make necessary statistical information available to the public.

The government had also inaugurated a Data Lab to facilitate research by students, academics and other researchers. However, he said access to information should not remain confined to those who could physically visit the facility.

"We want to ensure the right to information through policy reforms and technological facilities so that anyone from any part of Bangladesh, or even from anywhere in the world, can access our data and conduct independent research and analysis," he said.

Saki said open access to data would enable independent researchers, academic institutions and different sections of society to scrutinise government policies and statistical findings.

He stressed that government agencies alone should not determine the quality of statistical analysis. Independent assessments and critical engagement by researchers and other stakeholders would help validate findings and strengthen public confidence in official data, he added.

Referring to the proposed `One Citizen, One Number, One Wallet` initiative, the state minister said it could help establish a comprehensive citizen database and facilitate the collection of disaggregated information on different social groups.

Such information would enable the government to conduct more targeted assessments and take evidence-based decisions according to the needs of different sections of society, he said.

Emphasising the importance of authentic data collection, Saki said the government`s key commitment was to ensure that statistical information accurately reflected the country`s socioeconomic realities.

He called for collective efforts by the government, statistical professionals, researchers and other stakeholders to build a credible, transparent and accessible national statistical system.