There are 1.22 crore economic enterprises across the country, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

Among them, 76 lakh are business establishments and 46 lakh are economic units, the national statistics agency found during the primary mapping ‍and listing work for the country's fourth economic census, said Project Director SM Shakil Akhter.

The three-year economic census is budgeted to cost Tk 579 crore, of which Tk 234 crore has been allocated for the main survey.

The fourth economic census will begin today, introducing new components such as data on foreign nationals working in Bangladesh and information about the e-commerce scene.

Officials of the BBS shared the details at a press briefing at its auditorium in the capital's Agargaon yesterday.

The nationwide census will be conducted from December 10 to 26 using a fully digital and online system, they said, adding that the mapping and listing work was completed in July.

The country has been divided into 13 divisions, comprising 130 districts, 520 upazilas, 2,600 zones, 19,000 supervisory areas and 95,000 enumeration areas for the census.

In preparation, 1.22 crore enterprises have been identified across the country, made up of 66.22 lakh business establishments and 56.8 lakh agricultural economic households.

Through 70 questions, the census will assess social and environmental aspects, identify challenges, and evaluate ICT integration in production processes, he added.

Project Director Akhter said institutions' income, expenditure and profitability will also be analysed.

He said a report may be provided at the end of January 2025 after the main economic census is conducted.

The national statistical agency will also collect information on activities, manpower, resources, and basic facilities.

The economic census is usually carried out every 10 years. The BBS launched the first in 1986, the second in 2001-2003 and the third in 2013.

Mahbub Hossain, secretary of the Statistics and Informatics Division, said a digital map, integrating Geographic Information System and geocoding, had been prepared to ensure smooth activities.

The tablets used for data collection will be centrally controlled through mobile device management software, he said.

To preserve and secure collected data, an advanced data centre of the Bangladesh Data Centre Company Limited (BDCCL) will be used.

All data will remain confidential until being transferred from the field through BDCCL to the BBS server. This ensures both the safety of personal information and support for census workers in data collection, he added.

Hossain urged all concerned to ensure active participation and cooperation to make this economic census a success.