Let the harassment stop at every step

The registration of citizens' births and deaths is the responsibility of the state. It is recognized in the United Nations Convention on Human Rights. However, according to UNICEF research, nearly 230 million children worldwide remain unregistered. Bangladesh is no exception. In our country, according to the Birth Registration Act of 2004, everyone is required to complete the birth and death registration process within 45 days of birth, regardless of race, religion, color, ethnicity, or gender. However, there is considerable disorder in the proper enforcement of this rule at the government level, which is highly unfortunate and undesirable.

Currently, a birth certificate is a highly essential piece of identification for citizens. It is required for 19 types of civic services, including school admission, employment, obtaining a passport, marriage registration, and receiving a national ID. It is mandatory for everyone. However, according to a news report published last Saturday (May 25), the urban population faces endless difficulties with obtaining birth registration certificates. Sometimes certificates disappear from the server, and at other times they do not connect to the website. Even when certificates are obtained, they often cannot be used for school admission, passport issuance, or opening bank accounts. Additionally, obtaining these certificates involves endless hassles.

According to available information, it is difficult to find anyone in Dhaka who has not faced difficulties obtaining a birth certificate for their child. Taking advantage of the troubles faced by ordinary people, brokers have emerged. They lure people with promises of providing birth certificates quickly and without hassle, and then extort money from them. Even paying money does not resolve the issue. Applications are delayed for months with excuses such as server unavailability, spelling errors in parents' names, and problems with the online copy, among other complications.

Research indicates that despite the legal requirement, an estimated over 10 million children under the age of five in the country remain unregistered. Consequently, these children are effectively invisible in the eyes of the state. Since existing law mandates that newborns be registered within 45 days, the lack of official identification hinders these children from accessing essential services such as education, healthcare, and legal protections. Experts argue that due to this situation, the country is experiencing an increase in issues such as trafficking, child marriage, and child labor. Therefore, ensuring birth registration for all children and death certificates for deceased individuals is crucial for addressing these crises and problems.

The relevant authorities have also acknowledged their weaknesses, citing the lack of manpower and technological errors. However, for such an essential service, there is no room for accepting any form of weakness or excuses. We aspire to see an end to all the difficulties and hassles faced by citizens in obtaining birth registration certificates. Citizens should receive their services within the stipulated time frame. In this regard, simplifying the registration process, prosecuting both governmental and non-governmental wrongdoers, including brokers, and establishing robust online servers are the only viable options.