Let women's death registration be ensured through establishment of rights

Many in Bangladesh are unaware that the death registration of a loved one is an extremely important document for those who survive, resulting in a low rate of death registration in the country. In recent times, death registration has become somewhat more important due to the need for it when dividing a deceased person’s property among heirs, as well as for other official purposes. However, there too lies discrimination. According to a report published in the media on Sunday, the death registration rate for women is significantly lower than that of men. A woman’s death is registered only when she owns property. This reveals several things. First, women are still victims of discrimination in property rights; second, the social valuation of women remains very low.

These statements were made by researchers and women’s rights activists last Saturday at a hotel in the capital during the unveiling of a research findings on women's death registration. The joint research was conducted by BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, and the Data for Health Initiative of Johns Hopkins University, USA. Researchers and officials from both governmental and non-governmental organisations participated in the event.

Citing the Birth and Death Registration Act, 2004, it was mentioned at the event that the details of a deceased person (name, age, place and date of death) must be registered within 45 days of death. This law applies equally to both men and women. But the reality is that the rate of death registration for women is alarmingly low. According to the latest data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, the death registration rate for men is 26 percent, while for women it is only 5 percent.

In the welcome speech, Laura Reichenbach, Dean and Director of BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, said women’s death registration is not merely a statistical matter; it is a matter of rights. The low rate of women’s death registration indicates a decline in their rights. She further stated that, in addition to some socio-economic reasons, the lack of necessary manpower and resources contributes to the low registration rate of women's deaths.

Death registration is not required solely for the division of property; many cultural aspects are also associated with it. In the context of Bangladesh, it is often observed—especially two or three decades ago—that many children could not even accurately remember the date of their parents’ death. The cultural practice of birth and death registration has not historically been prevalent in this country. In contrast, in Western countries, such practices have been widely established for three to four hundred years. This is linked not only to a socio-cultural history but also to the preservation of family memory and levels of education.

Researchers say there are at least five barriers to women’s death registration. People’s awareness or understanding of registration is low. As women do not own land or property, family members do not feel the need to register their deaths. Registrations are done reactively or belatedly, only when legal complications or financial needs arise. Often, registrations do not occur due to the lack of necessary documents, particularly in the case of women in rural areas. Registrations are also frequently hindered by inefficiency and lack of coordination among government offices.

We want women's rights to be established in our society and state. Their social recognition must be ensured. Even in the absence of practical necessity, their deaths must be registered. Children can do this only if they grow up with cultural education. In this regard, the government should take effective initiatives to raise public awareness. Through the increase in women's death registration, we will be able to gauge how far women’s rights have been secured within families, society, and the state.