Public trust in statistics must be restored, says PM’s adviser Titumir

Public trust in statistics must be restored, said Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, adviser to the prime minister on finance and planning ministry affairs.

He made the remark at a discussion meeting held on Sunday (8 November) at the Statistics Building in Agargaon in the capital, on the occasion of National Statistics Day 2026.

The prime minister’s adviser said quality and scientific statistics, digital public infrastructure and public policy accountable to the people must be established.

Speaking at the event, State Minister for Planning Jonaid Abdur Rahim Saki said under no circumstances should data be distorted.

He said the government is committed to ensuring reliable, neutral and easily accessible information for the people. Effective planning, good governance and sustainable development are possible only on the basis of correct statistics.

The meeting was chaired by Md. Firoz Sarkar, secretary of the Statistics and Informatics Division.

In his chair’s remarks, he said the present government has prioritised establishing good governance, transparency and accountability, economic development, job creation, and reducing poverty and inequality, along with balanced and sustainable development.

He added that to implement these priorities effectively, there is no alternative to quality, reliable and timely statistics for evidence-based policymaking, equitable and proper distribution of resources, and correct monitoring and evaluation of development activities.

He said everyone concerned must work with professionalism, neutrality and responsibility to build the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics into a modern, efficient, technology-based and people-friendly institution.

Speakers at the event said statistics is not merely a collection of numbers; it is one of the most important foundations of running the state, managing the economy, planning development and improving people’s quality of life. That is why transparency, accuracy, scientific methods and international standards must be maintained at every stage of collecting, processing, analysing and publishing data.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury attended the event as chief guest. Special guests were the prime minister’s political adviser and chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the planning ministry, Zahir Uddin Swapan; adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir; and State Minister for Planning Md. Jonaid Abdur Rahim Saki.

The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics is observing the day under the theme “Reliable and accessible statistics — the foundation of sustainable development and planning.”