, Aug. 11 -- State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki on Tuesday directed officials to take strict departmental action against anyone found manipulating or distorting information and data during the country's first-ever census of watercraft.

He made the remarks while inaugurating a training programme for census coordinators at the divisional, district and upazila levels for the Watercraft Census 2026.

Saki said reliable data and statistics are essential for formulating sound policies and development plans, stressing that there is no alternative to accurate statistics for ensuring socio-economic development and effective planning.

"If any irregularity, discrepancy or inconsistency is found in the collection of accurate and r...