The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Bangladesh on Sunday jointly hosted a national consultation in Dhaka to chart a roadmap for building a robust Research and Development (R&D) Cell within the BBS.

Titled “Strengthening the BBS R&D Cell: Priorities for Excellence in Data and Research”, the event was supported by the Embassy of Switzerland and drew participation from over 100 stakeholders representing the government, academia, private sector, and development partners.

The initiative aims to transform the proposed R&D Cell into a centre of excellence that fosters innovation, boosts statistical capacity, and promotes evidence-based policymaking in Bangladesh, said a press release.

Aleya Akter, Secretary of the Statistics and Informatics Division, described the R&D Cell as a “timely and strategic investment,” underscoring the need to engage young researchers and align with global best practices.

Mizanur Rahman, Deputy Director of BBS, said the Cell would enhance methodological integrity and adopt technologies like artificial intelligence to meet the growing demand for quality data at both national and international levels.

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UNDP Senior Economic Adviser Owais Parray stressed the importance of innovation, saying, “The Cell must become the engine of innovation—testing new tools and ensuring national statistics remain relevant in a rapidly changing world.”

Highlighting the need for inclusive and timely data, UNDP’s Assistant Resident Representative Anowarul Haq called for stronger multi-stakeholder collaboration to realise the Cell’s full potential.

In his concluding remarks, BBS Director General Mohammed Mizanur Rahman reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to establishing a future-ready R&D Cell grounded in strong partnerships.

The consultation emphasised capacity building, inclusive data methodologies, and strategic collaboration as essential elements in modernising Bangladesh’s statistical ecosystem.