Birth, death reg law reform must for good governance

The average birth and death registration rates in Bangladesh currently stand at 50 per cent and 47 per cent respectively, meaning nearly half of the population still faces difficulties accessing basic rights such as education and healthcare due to the lack of registration.

Against this backdrop, stakeholders believe the birth and death registration law needs to be reformed to ensure good governance.

National Birth and Death Registration Day 2026 is being observed today (Tuesday) with the theme, “Accurate Registration, Ensuring Good Governance.”

Stakeholders say accurate birth and death registration is not only a basis for protecting citizens’ rights, but also an important tool for development planning, public health management, equitable budget allocation and ensuring good governance.

Although the government has pledged to ensure 100 per cent registration by 2030, some weaknesses in the existing law have emerged as major challenges to achieving the target.

The lack of timely and accurate registration also increases the risk of various human rights violations, including child labour, child marriage and human trafficking, besides creating barriers to education and healthcare. This, in turn, hampers efforts to establish good governance.

Similarly, the absence of death registration creates complications in proving inheritance and increases the risk of disputes among relatives over property. Death registration rates are particularly low in rural areas, chars, hilly regions and urban slums.

Experts believe the Birth and Death Registration Act, 2004 needs to be reformed to ensure accurate registration and good governance. If all healthcare facilities are given direct responsibility for registration instead of placing the sole responsibility on families, nearly 67 per cent of children born at healthcare facilities in the country could automatically come under accurate registration.

This would reduce data manipulation, prevent false or incorrect registrations and accelerate progress towards achieving SDG 16.9, which calls for providing legal identity for all.