TDS Desk:

The importance of rural areas has increased as most of the economic units are based in villages, the 4th Economic Census report revealed today (29 January).

Among the total number of economic units operational in Bangladesh, 70.27% are in rural areas, while 29.73% are urban, it said.

The 4th Economic Census report, unveiled at the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) building, showed that there are a total of 1.18 crore economic units in the country right now, among which 62.88 lakh units are permanent, 5.7 lakh are temporary and 50 lakh units are family-based, the report said.

According to the report, the highest number of economic units was based in Dhaka division, which was 27.03%.

Among the economic units operated by families, 82.20% were in rural areas.

Of those, 8.77% of economic units were industrial, while the rest was in the service sector, the report said.

The report said 93.53% or 11.10 crore units were operated by men, while 7.6 lakh units were run by women.

A total of 3.7 crore people were working in the economic units, among whom 56.82% were based in rural areas, the report revealed.

Director General of BBS Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, who presented the facts, said today’s report was part of the 4th Economic Census.

The first economic census was conducted in 1986.

The census takes place every 10 years since then, he added.

According to him, the economic units have increased by 40.58 lakh in the last 10 years, although economic units in the manufacturing sector have decreased from 11.54% in 2013 to 8.77% in 2024.

The census report added that growth in the productive sector has slowed down, while the service sector has grown to 91%.

The number of women working in the economic units has also decreased, the report added.

Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud was present at the event as chief guest.