Experts demand reforming law to ensure good governance in birth, death registration

Bangladesh is set to observe National Birth and Death Registration Day 2026 on Tuesday.

The theme for this year’s observance is “Nirbhul Nibondhon, Nischit Hobe Sushason.”

In a statement issued on the occasion, ABM Zubair, executive director of the research and advocacy organisation PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress), said, “The primary prerequisite for ensuring good governance is preserving accurate and universal data for all citizens. Reforming the Birth and Death Registration Act, 2004 to assign mandatory registration duties to healthcare facilities will expedite Bangladesh's progress toward achieving universal registration by 2030.”

Accurate birth and death registration is the cornerstone of safeguarding civic rights, as well as the most vital mechanism for effective development planning, public health management, equitable budget allocation, and good governance.

Although the government is committed to achieving universal registration by 2030, loopholes in the existing law remain a significant hurdle to reaching this target.

Currently, the rates of birth and death registration in Bangladesh stand at just 50% and 47%, respectively. Consequently, nearly half the population continues to face hurdles in accessing fundamental rights such as education and healthcare.

The lack of timely and accurate registration heightens risks of child labor, child marriage, human trafficking, and other human rights violations, undermining good governance. Similarly, unregistered deaths lead to complex legal disputes over inheritance and property distribution among relatives.

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Registration rates are particularly low in rural, coastal (char), hilly, and urban slum communities.

Experts stress that amending the “Birth and Death Registration Act, 2004” is essential to establish accurate record-keeping and good governance. Instead of placing the sole burden of responsibility on families, mandating healthcare facilities to directly register births would instantly bring the nearly 67% of children born in health facilities under an automatic, error-free registration coverage.

This step would eliminate data distortion, curb fraudulent registrations, enhance transparency and accountability, and accelerate progress toward SDG Goal 16.9 (legal identity for all).