DHAKA: The government has taken initiative to make Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) more dynamic through upgrading the Department of Statistics.

As per the plan, the Statistics Department under the Planning Ministry will be named Statistics and Information Management Department (SIMD).

“As the lone government institution, the BBS will control and provide all kinds of government information through SIMD,” said BBS Director-General Md. Shahjahan Ali Mollah.

Necessary steps have been taken to improve the standard of BBS for getting correct and reliable information and bringing dynamism in its activities, he said.

A proposal in this regard was sent to the Cabinet and the Establishment Ministry for approval, said a source in the BBS, which reportedly often falls far behind the fast-moving developments.

The activities of BBS are now being run through the Statistics Department of Planning Ministry while a secretary and two deputy secretaries will be assigned to carry out the activities of the up-and-coming SIMD, sources said.

“All necessary initiatives have already been taken by providing computers to all districts and upazilas. Besides, a modern training academy, data archives and digital library will be set up,” the BBS DG said.

He also said, “Despite having limitations and various crises, BBS has proved its distinctiveness releasing regular survey reports on population and agriculture census, education, health, industry and finance.”

The 5th population census and house count is going to start in March next year. Total citizens’ database will be included in this activity where elaborate information of all citizens will be registered, said a source.

Besides, BBS’ server has been strengthened for easy flow of information from country’s remote area, the source added.

BDST: 1550 HRS, AUG 18, 2010