Civil society consultations on CRVS held

The Civil Society Consultation (CSO Consultation) on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) has successfully been held in Dhaka.

Organized by Nari Maitree and PROGGA, with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), the event took place at the YWCA Conference Room on Thursday.

During the time, government representatives, civil society organizations (CSOs), and development partners attended it. They discussed various aspects of strengthening the CRVS system in Bangladesh.

The event was inaugurated by Shaheen Akhter Dolly, Executive Director of Nari Maitree.

Experts shared their insights on the challenges and opportunities of the current CRVS system in Bangladesh, its role in health and development, and the responsibilities of civil society organizations.

The Chief Guest of the event was Murshida Sharmin, Joint Secretary (Civil Registration and Social Security), Cabinet Division. Special guests included Mohammad Ruhul Kuddus, Bangladesh Country Lead of GHAI, and Mohammad Moin Uddin, Country Coordinator of Vital Strategies were also present.

Chief Guest Murshida Sharmin highlighted the immense potential for improving the CRVS system through collaborative efforts between the government and civil society. Khaled Bin Yusuf, Program Director of Nari Maitree, presented the keynote paper, providing an overview of the CRVS system, its relevance to strengthening health and development, and the current state of CRVS in Bangladesh.

A significant panel discussion was held on "The Role of CSOs in Strengthening CRVS Policies and Management." The session was moderated by Khaled Bin Yusuf, Program Director of Nari Maitree. Panelists included Mohammad Ruhul Kuddus, Bangladesh Country Lead (Cardiovascular Health), GHAI, Mohammad Moin Uddin, Country Coordinator, Vital Strategies, A.B.M. Zubair, Executive Director, PROGGA, Samia Afrin, Project Director, Naripokkho, Tapon Kumar Das, Deputy Director, CAMPE.

To ensure active participation, a World Café Session was organized, where discussions focused on child rights, health, gender equality, human rights, and statelessness. The session was divided into five tables, with participants rotating every 15 minutes to engage in different discussions.

Hasan Shahriar, Head of Programs at PROGGA, facilitated the session. Key recommendations from the discussion included increasing public awareness, media campaigns, training for relevant authorities, and integrating birth and death registration with the health sector.

Speakers emphasized the need for a collaborative effort between government and non-governmental organizations to establish an inclusive and effective CRVS system. The event concluded with remarks from A.B.M. Zubair, Executive Director of PROGGA.

The entire event was hosted by Anika Anzum Oishy, Senior Advocacy Officer of Nari Maitree.

During the consultation, the formal announcement of the formation of a Civil Society Forum was made, urging policymakers to take effective measures to improve Bangladesh's CRVS system.