The much-awaited sixth population and housing census began on 15 June 2022 across the country digitally. The census will continue till tomorrow 21 June 2022. The sixth population and housing census are organised by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

This is the first time in Bangladesh, that the census has been conducted digitally. Aiming to motivate the community people for providing accurate information in the census the 18 Community Radios and 2 Community Internet Radios in Bangladesh have been starting a Seven-Day ‘Census Broadcasting’ since 15 June 2022.

The Community Radios are – Community Radio Padma 99.2FM (Rajshahi), Community Radio Nalta 99.2FM (Satkhira), Community Radio Lokobetar 99.2FM (Barguna Sadar, Barguna), Community Radio Pollikontho 99.2FM (Moulvibazar), Community Radio Sagor Giri 99.2FM (Chattogram), Community Radio Mahananda 98.8FM (Chapai Nawabgonj), Community Radio Mukti 99.2FM (Bogura), Community Radio Chilmari 99.2FM (Kurigram), Community Radio Jhenuk 99.2FM (Jhenidah), Community Radio Krishi 99.8FM (Amtoli, Barguna), Community Radio Naf 99.2FM (Teknaf, Cox’sbazar), Community Radio Borendro 99.2FM (Naogoan), Community Radio Bikrampur 99.2FM (Munshiganj), Community Radio Meghna 99.0FM (Bhola), Community Radio Sagardwip 99.2 FM (Noakhali), Community Radio Sarabela 98.8FM (Gaibandha), Community Radio Boral 99.0FM (Bagha, Rajshahi), Community Radio Saikat 99.0FM (Cox’s Bazar), Community Internet Radio-radio Voirob.net (Bagerhat), Community Internet Radio-radio Dwip.net (Sandwip, Chattogram).

The radios are broadcasting songs, dramas, docudramas, census countdowns, documentaries, public service announcement (PSA) reports, interviews, etc. and also campaigning on the radio’s social media (Facebook, YouTube)

It may be mentioned here that this is the first time the transgender/hijra, people have been included in the digital survey with other members of the family (men, women and children). All issues have been broadcast through the community radio. The broadcasters are maintaining liaisons with divisional/District/Upazila Census coordinators selected by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, Deputy Commissioner and Local Administration. They keep regular contact with them and collect updated information.

It is to be noted that around 50 community radio broadcasters have been directly involved to collect information at the field level.

The first Population and housing census were conducted in 1974 under the direction of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation of independent Bangladesh. Following this, the second, third, fourth and fifth census and household census were conducted in 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2011 respectively. The Sixth Population and Housing Census 2022 have been conducted nationwide by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) from 15 to 21 June 2022, following 10-year experience in a fully digital manner to implement the promise of building a digital Bangladesh. To this end, 12:00 noon on 14 June 2022 has been designated as ‘Census Reference Point / Time’. Hon’ble Prime Minister has given her consent in this regard.

For the population and housing census 2022, a web-based Integrated Census Management System (ICMS) and Geographical Information System (GIS) have been prepared using various methods of preparation of Control Map in different areas.

About 360,000 enumerators, 74,000 supervisors and more than 4,500 BBS employees across the country are directly involved in the census data collection process. In addition, about 900 employees of various government departments outside the BBS will serve as zonal officers.

A total of 35 types of information are being taken from one person in this census. If any family member is abroad, he/she will also be included in the calculation. The foreigners who are staying in Bangladesh will also be counted. Through this, the exact number of expatriates and the number of foreigners staying in Bangladesh will be known.

In addition to demographics, socio-economic information, economic activities, foreign remittances, age of family members, gender, marital status, religion, disability, education, employment, training, mobile phone and internet use, bank, mobile banking account, ethnicity, nationality, own district, etc. information on various topics will be collected.