Millions still invisible: Legal identity gaps deny Bangladeshis basic rights
Tasnuba Akhter Rifa :
Despite progress in digitising public services, millions of Bangladeshis remain legally invisible, without a birth or death certificate to prove their existence.
According to UNICEF data, only 50 per cent of births in Bangladesh are registered, compared to the global average of 77 per cent and the South Asian regional average of 76 per cent. Death registration fares even worse, with only 47 per cent of deaths recorded, while the global average stands at 74 per cent
The consequences of these low registration rates are far-reaching. The UNICEF report says, “Birth Registration for Every Child by 2030” highlights that unregistered children in Bangladesh are often unable to enroll in school, access healthcare, or benefit from social protection programmes. The report also notes that the lack of registration increases children’s vulnerability to early marriage, child labour, and human trafficking, making birth registration a cornerstone of legal identity and child protection.
Experts are emphasising on the government to take more awareness programmes for ensuring 100 per cent birth and death registration.
When contacted, The Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) Bangladesh Country Lead Muhammad Ruhul Quddus told The New Nation on Tuesday, “About half of the total population are staying beyond birth registration which created obstacles of getting smooth government services.”
He said, “In this modern era, getting an NID or passport or getting admissions in schools or getting several social services, the birth certificate is highly important. But huge numbers of people are not aware over the matter; it has created anarchies in government services.”
The expert suggested to give responsibility to the health facilities where about 70pc of the children gets births.
He said death registration also is important.
The absence of legal identity continues to affect individuals throughout their lives. Without a birth certificate, citizens cannot obtain a National Identity Card, which is required to vote, open bank accounts, secure formal employment, or receive government subsidies. This exclusion undermines civic participation and economic empowerment, particularly for the poor and those in rural communities.
Data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) show that many families remain unaware of registration requirements or face logistical barriers such as long distances to registration offices, lack of digital access, and administrative delays. For those living in poverty, even minor registration fees or transport costs can be too expensive.
Legal and rights organisations warn that incomplete registration systems also undermine justice, economic planning, and food security. According to the declaration of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)’s “Get Everyone in the Picture” report (2023), individuals without official records face difficulties accessing inheritance, pension claims, and property rights. The lack of comprehensive death registration also disrupts demographic data, which governments rely on for resource allocation, welfare distribution, and food security planning.
Economists and governance experts emphasize that accurate civil registration is essential for effective public budgeting, taxation, and targeted social safety nets. When people remain uncounted, entire communities risk being overlooked in food aid, agricultural support, and poverty alleviation programmes.
Bangladesh has pledged to achieve 100 per cent birth and death registration by 2030, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.9, which calls for ensuring legal identity for all, including birth registration. The country is also an active participant in the UNESCAP CRVS Decade (2015-2024), a regional initiative seeking to ensure every birth and death in the Asia-Pacific region is recorded.
In recent years, the government has expanded digital registration systems, trained local registrars, and conducted awareness campaigns in collaboration with development organisations. However, both UNICEF and UNESCAP note that challenges persist, including limited inter-agency coordination, weak data integration, and low public awareness.
