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DHAKA, Oct 7, 2024 (BSS) - Adviser to the interim government on the Ministry of Planning and Education Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud today said that the government would not make any interference into the operations of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) since it is an 'independent' entity.

"When I was outside of the government, I looked into the operations of BBS as an expert, but now I'm within the government and I think in principle that the BBS is independent and the government will not interfere into its operations," he said.

The Planning Adviser was briefing reporters about the outcomes of the ECNEC meeting at the NEC Conference Room in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar   today.

Dr Mahmud said he had already told the BBS authorities that he would not interfere into their operations adding that the government also wants to make a new policy on statistics which has to be passed by the Advisers Council.

"No matter to what extent it (BBS) has  weaknesses, whatever BBS will give us data and statistics, I being  an Adviser won't look into their tasks as they will accomplish their duties according to their own capacity," he added.

The Planning Adviser said he has already mentioned that the capacity of BBS is not that good. "But, for this I won't hold BBS responsible for this since all the statistical organizations of the neighbouring and developing countries are not so strong professionally,"

In this regard, he mentioned that the statistical organization of India was once strong enough, but that situation now does not exist as their 'freedom and independence' have gone away.

Dr Mahmud said there are two things -- data and information could not be collected properly over the years due to lack of capacity by BBS. "It is very much known to me as I worked in various technical committees of BBS."

Secondly, he alleged that political influence was there for determining economic growth and inflation.