Photo credit: UNHCR

Bangladesh is taking steps toward strengthening its civil registration system as experts highlight opportunities for reform to achieve universal coverage. While current birth and death registration rates: 50% and 47% respectively, remain below global averages, momentum is building to close these gaps and ensure every citizen has a legal identity.

Improving registration coverage is critical for expanding access to education, healthcare, and social protection. Legal identity also plays a key role in preventing child marriage, child labor, and trafficking by providing official proof of age. Recent surveys reveal progress but also persistent challenges among marginalized groups, with street children and urban slum families most affected. Addressing these disparities will help advance Bangladesh’s commitments to equity and inclusion.

Experts recommend practical reforms to accelerate progress, including mandatory registration at health facilities, fee waivers for early corrections, and enhanced digital integration to streamline processes. These measures align with the United Nations’ goal of 100% registration by 2030 and support broader Sustainable Development Goals on health, equality, and poverty reduction. Strengthening civil registration is not only an administrative priority—it is a foundation for inclusive development and social justice.

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