BBS, Robi team up for digital population census

Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) has selected Robi Axiata Limited as the digital connectivity provider to deliver the country’s first ever digital population and housing census.

The bureau will conduct the sixth census digitally from June 15–21 this year.

National Population and Housing Census 2022 Project Director Md Dilder Hossain and Robi Chief Enterprise Business Officer Adil Hossain Noble signed an agreement in this connection on behalf of their respective organisations at BBS Auditorium, Parishankhyan Bhaban in Dhaka on Sunday, the mobile telecom operator said in a press release.

Under the agreement, Robi will provide around 4 lakh connections, data, SMS bundles and other digital solutions to BBS.

Statistics and Informatics Division Secretary Dr Shahnaz Arefin, BBS Director General Mohammad Tajul Islam, while Robi acting CEO and CFO M Riyaaz Rasheed, Chief Corporate and Regulatory Officer Shahed Alam along with high officials from both organisations were present at the signing ceremony.

Around 3.7 lakh enumerators will collect the population census data from across the country using Robi's 4.5G network and send them to a central server for processing, read the release.

Data will be collected from each household using a computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) system, geographic information system, and tablet computers with data connectivity.

Robi will also support BBS’ zonal operations as well as the preparedness training. Besides, data connectivity, SMS, location tracking, and e-CRM for monitoring call centre support will be used for a smooth census operation.

President Md Abdul Hamid is expected to unveil a memorial stamp on the project while Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will give an inaugural speech on June 14 marking the beginning of the landmark digital project.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Secretary Shahnaz Arefin said, “Accuracy of census data is extremely important to decide on policy measures that support the country’s socio-economic growth. In this connection, we found Robi as the most suitable partner to provide digital connectivity support for the first ever digital census of the country.”

Robi acting CEO and CFO Riyaaz Rasheed said, “Robi is proud to be associated with the first ever digital population census of the country. We thank the BBS for entrusting us with this major responsibility. We look forward to supporting this high priority national project with our innovative digital solution.”