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The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) is set to conduct the country’s first-ever survey of indigenous communities, with data collection scheduled to begin on October 1 and continue until October 25.
Around 3,500 enumerators will collect data nationwide as part of the survey. A stakeholder consultation workshop was held on Thursday at the Statistics Building in Agargaon, Dhaka, ahead of the survey.
Officials said the survey would create a comprehensive database of indigenous communities living in Bangladesh, containing detailed household-level information. It will also incorporate various socioeconomic indicators to provide a clearer picture of their living conditions.
Planning State Minister Jonaid Abdur Rahim Saki attended the workshop as the chief guest. Secretary of the Statistics and Informatics Division Md Firoz Sarker chaired the opening session, while Additional Secretary Kazi Golam Towfiq and BBS Director General Md Shamimul Haque also spoke. Project Director Farhana Sultana presented the keynote paper.
Speaking at the event, Saki said accurate data was essential for ensuring the development of people from all social, professional and ethnic groups.
“Without reliable statistics, it is difficult to formulate policies for disadvantaged communities,” he said, adding that the survey had been initiated with this objective in mind.
He also stressed that proper planning depended on accurate information.
Project Director Farhana Sultana said the pre-test phase of the survey had already been completed in Bandarban, Patgram, Cox’s Bazar, Dhaka, Habiganj, Jashore, Kishoreganj, Moulvibazar, Mymensingh, Chapainawabganj, Netrakona and Panchagarh.
She said Patuakhali, Rajshahi, Rangamati, Sherpur and Sylhet would also be included, while the main survey would cover the entire country.
Enumerators will collect information on household identification and characteristics, family members, education and training, and the economic activities of members aged over 10. They will also gather information on family members living abroad or outside their households, including those staying in hostels, messes or workplaces.
The survey will also cover disability status, participation in social safety-net programmes, possession of national identity cards and birth certificates, marital status, religious identity, NGO assistance, active accounts with financial institutions and remittance receipts.
Statistics and Informatics Division Secretary Md Firoz Sarker described it as the country’s first dedicated survey of indigenous communities. He said the findings would provide detailed information about their socioeconomic conditions and contribute significantly to better development planning.
BBS Director General Md Shamimul Haque said collecting data for such a specialised survey would pose several challenges and called for cooperation from local administrations and other stakeholders.
He said the survey data would help policymakers and government and non-government organisations improve the delivery of social protection programmes and other services to indigenous community members at the grassroots level.