After a decade, the country’s fourth Economic Census is set to begin on Tuesday and will continue until December 26.
The matter was confirmed in a press briefing on Monday, regarding the Economic Census 2024 project.
The event was held at the conference room of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) in Agargaon, Dhaka.
Deputy Project Director of the Economic Census Project, Mizanur Rahman, provided an overview of the census during the briefing.
According to the briefing, the census will feature 70 questions, and for the first time, data will be collected using the CAPI method via tablets.
So far, 12.2 million units have been identified through listing, with detailed information to be collected from these and other sources.
This year’s census will, for the first time, include data on the number of foreign workers in the country, their employment sectors, job roles, and gender distribution.
It was also revealed that 95,000 data collectors across the country will gather information for the census. The BBS conducts such censuses every 10 years to assess the country’s economic status. Preparations, including publicity campaigns, have already been completed.
Secretary of the Statistics and Informatics Division, Mahbub Hossain, said: “To ensure the smooth completion of the census, a digital map integrating Geographic Information System (GIS) and Geo Code has been prepared. The tablets used for data collection will be centrally controlled through Mobile Device Management (MDM) software.”
He added: “To preserve and secure the collected data, we are using the advanced data centre of Bangladesh Data Centre Company Limited (BDCCL). All data will remain confidential until it is transferred from the field through BDCCL to the BBS server. This ensures both the safety of personal information and support for census workers in data collection.”
BBS Director General Md Mizanur Rahman said: “The Economic Census 2024 will provide accurate and updated insights into Bangladesh’s economic structure and trends, playing a vital role in the country’s overall development planning.”