DHAKA, June 11, 2024 (BSS) - The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) today officially announced the launch of the ‘Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS): Round 7 (2024-2025)’ in Bangladesh. 

MICS is a household survey to collect essential data on children and women, gathering critical evidence on their lives and access to essential services. The survey is an important source of data for national authorities to guide them in formulating policies, plans, and programmes to respond to their needs.

Among some of the new features of this round, MICS will collect data on blood lead levels (BLL), heavy metals, micronutrients, and anemia for the first time in Bangladesh. This is vital as environmental health risks significantly impact children's health, with nearly one in three deaths among children under five being preventable by addressing these risks.

State Minister for Planning Md Shahiduzzaman Sarker spoke at the launching ceremony in the city as the chief guest while Statistics and Informatics Division Secretary Dr Shahnaz Arefin spoke as special guest with Director General of BBS Mohammad Mizanur Rahman in the chair.
 
Representative of UNICEF in Bangladesh Sheldon Yett spoke as the guest of honour. Director of BBS Md Mashud Alam made a power-point presentation on the survey. Statistics and Informatics Division joint Secretary Dr Dipankar Roy moderated the question and answer session.

BBS and UNICEF have collaborated for decades to conduct MICS surveys. The first MICS in Bangladesh was launched 30 years ago, and subsequent rounds have significantly contributed to improving the lives of women and children in the country. This wealth of data has been a game changer for achieving children's rights, and the work developed by UNICEF, policymakers, the government, and partners.

Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, Md. Shahiduzzaman Sarker said, “I congratulate BBS and UNICEF for initiating the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey that will provide accurate information on the needs of children and disadvantaged women in our country, allowing us to address data gaps on the Sustainable Development Goals and enable effective planning and implementation through timely data."

He also asked all concerned related with the survey to conduct it sincerely with integrity so that there is no mismatch.

Noting that the nation could be proud of the BBS for its works, the State Minister said the BBS would move forward in the coming days and thus expedite their work for the welfare of the nation.

Statistics and Informatics Division Secretary Dr Shahnaz Arefin said that this round of MICS would feature blood sample collection for which it would be possible to know about the health condition of people.

Mentioning that the MICS mainly focuses on women and children, Shahnaz said, “I hope this round 7 will be a lucky seven for us with a revolution,” 

During the launch, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh, Sheldon Yett said, “UNICEF is proud to collaborate with the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics to conduct the next round of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, a critical source of data on the fulfillment of rights and wellbeing of children in this country.”

Yett said that the since the 1960s, the MICS has become as a reliable source of data across the world.

Referring to the attainments of SDGs, he said there has been progress for Bangladesh while the MICS would allow the policy makers to measure that progress. 

The upcoming MICS will include nearly 200 health, nutrition, water, sanitation, education, and child protection indicators. These data points are crucial for monitoring progress toward achieving the ambitious UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and evaluating the 8th Five-Year Plan 2020-2025.

The survey will be conducted nationwide, including the two main city corporations of Dhaka North and Dhaka South with a separate component that will cover issues facing the forcibly displaced Rohingya population in the country. Detailed survey plans, budgets, and questionnaires will be finalized in collaboration with BBS.

It was informed at the event that the sample size of the survey would be around 70,000 while the financing of the survey would be done by the UNICEF and the government.

The tentative timeline of MICS 2024-2025 include finalization of sampling design, methodology and survey tools in June-July, 2024, pretest of questionnaires in August 2024, development of CAPI, mapping and listing in September 2024, dry run of water quality and BLL test in October 2024, training of trainers in November 2024, training of fieldwork staff in December 2024, fieldwork for final data collection in January-April 2025, data processing and analysis in May-June 2025, survey key findings in June 2025, final report preparation in October 2025, and dissemination in November 2025.