Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) has initiated a move to digitalise its data collection system in preparing consumer price index (CPI).

Under the new system, the local level data collectors will send their data through an electronic device called "personal data assistant (PDA) tablet” from the fields during their survey works instead of present manual system.

The data will instantly reach at the centred server at the BBS headquarters where data will automatically show the time, date and place of sending. The system will be operated using

the global positioning system (GPS), which the mobile phones operators use.

The BBS officials said that under the PDA system, the whole data collection activities would be easily monitored.

“Since the report of the data collectors will automatically show the time, date and place, so we can easily check whether they sent those data from the field or anywhere else”, said Abul Kalam Azad, joint director of National AccountingWing of the BBS.

“Even, we will be able to understand if the data is genuine or arbitrarily manufactured," he added.

He also informed that a private firm -Amader Cloud-is

engaged to operate the PDA system. The firm will make a demonstration on their pilotoperation at the BBS Headquarters today.

According to Azad, a team comprising the officials of the private firm, officials of the BBS field level offices and also officials from BBS headquarters have been working in Kurigram and Patuakhali district on the PDA pilot project.

He said during the demonstration, they will send data from local areas' markets and other field level places. The BBS officials at the headquarters will verify those data during the demonstration.

The BBS officials said if the

PDA system is proved to be effective, then the move will be undertaken to introduce the same system throughout the country. Because, it will not only save time, but also reduce workload and create scope for more data collection on a wider range.

At present, the BBS has two data collectors in each district and their total manpower for data collection is 128 in 64 districts. They visit the field and manually prepare the data and send those to the headquarters.

But under the present arrangement, the officials said, there is no mechanism for the BBS headquarters to verify the authenticity of the data collection activities.

Earlier, the BBS engaged the same firm for another survey in Bogra and got good results, which prompted it to go for digitalising the CPI preparation.

For the last several months, the BBS has been realising data on inflation every month under its latest initiative to become more transparent and people friendly.

“We want to get the BBS as a more reliable and transparent organisation. That's why we have been taking these steps,” said Riti Ibrahim, secretary of statistics and informative division of the planning ministry, while inaugurating a training programme for journalists at BBS office yesterday.