Birth Registration
Char people still in dark
Birth registration rate in char and remote areas of coastal region is low as most people are unaware of its importance due to extreme poverty and illiteracy.
According to representatives of local bodies in Hatiya upazila of Noakhali district, registration rate in char and remote areas of the upazila is very poor.
They said 40 percent people in Nijhum Dwip (island) of the district had registered while only 20 percent in Naler Char and Boyar char.
According to upazila administration, the percentage of birth registration is 60 in the nine chars of Hatiya.
Rustam Ali, a rickshaw puller, is illiterate but has collected birth registration certificate for himself and his family members. But he does not at all know of its necessity.
Local Government Division in association with Unicef took a project of birth and death registration, which are mandatory according to a law passed in the Jatiya Sangsad in 2004.
City corporation mayor, his nominated officers or councillor, municipality mayor, administrator or his nominated officials or councillor, concerned union parishad chairman or government officials are authorised to issue birth registration certificates.
Similarly, concerned chiefs of the cantonment boards or his nominated persons and an ambassador or his nominated officials also have this authority.
The certificate is mandatory in issuance of passports; marriage registration; admission to educational institutions; appointments in government, non-government or autonomous organisations; issuing driving license; and enrolment as voter land registration.
It is also needed in opening bank accounts; providing gas, water and electricity connections; issuing trade license; and national identity cards.
Child marriage can also be stopped using birth registration certificates.
According to the law, registration should be done within 45 days of a child's birth. But unfortunately, birth registration rate is only 67 percent in the country.
The government observes Birth Registration Day on July 3 every year to create awareness among the people of the importance of birth registration and its benefits.
According to Birth Registration Act, those under 18 years of age will get birth registration certificates for free while those above have to pay Tk 50 as fee.
Local body representatives said the fee should be withdrawn for people of costal and char areas, who are extremely poor, to make the registration programme a success.
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