Indeed for sustainable
development, having sound data banks are very important for understanding a particular situation.
To chart a future course, accuracy of the relevant data is indispensable
Sound statistics are vital for development
The value of statistics is immense for an individual, organisation, state or even for the world. Considering the crucial importance of the same, the United Nations adopted 20th October as the World Statistic Day and this year yesterday the day was observed for the second time. The first one was observed last year.
On the occasion of the day the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon delivered a very worthwhile message and urged all partners and stakeholders to work together to ensure that the necessary investments are made, adequate technical capacity is built, new data sources are explored and innovative processes are applied to give all countries the comprehensive information systems they need to achieve sustainable development. We think the relevant people and organisations in Bangladesh, including the most crucial one, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), would pay serious attention to this.
Indeed for sustainable development, having sound data base is very important for understanding a particular situation. To chart a future course, accuracy of the relevant data is indispensable. But it is sad to note that in Bangladesh we are still far away from having accurate statistics in every sector. We often make guesstimates for taking crucial decisions which ultimately results in loss of time, resources and energy.
Take, for example, what is the number of population in the country or in the capital for that matter at present. Indeed our government has a record about it but few take the same to be an authentic one, because the data is not regularly updated, not to mention the errors involved when the actual census is made. More dangerously, statistics can be hidden or presented in an exaggerative manner to achieve some unholy ends. This can frustrate otherwise a sincere effort from achieving its real purpose. Therefore, it is not only important to have sound data they must also be used honestly and sincerely. Only then the purpose of a plan will rightly be achieved.
In the economic field, the relationship of accuracy in data with development is so vital that it can be described as one between mother and baby connected through the umbilical chord.
