Birth registration is the primary process of getting state certification as a citizen of a country. From the context of Bangladesh, it is the first and foremost important document to enjoy any form of state facilities granted to the Bangladeshi citizen. While it is a must-have document for all kinds of official needs, many people do not have and in fact, do not know how to get one. This article will outline the detailed process and steps of obtaining a birth registration certificate in Bangladesh.
Why is a Birth Registration Certificate Important?
Apart from the obvious fact that a birth registration validates a person as a citizen, there are other benefits and necessities to it. The most recent one is the registration for the Covid-19 vaccination. To register for vaccination, a person had to either submit their NID number or birth certificate number. And to get a NID in Bangladesh, a person needs a birth registration certificate.
A birth registration certificate is also needed to get enrolled in school or start a business. A person cannot vote if they don’t have a birth certificate. Basically, every kind of amenities and right that a citizen is entitled to become invalidated without a birth certificate.
How to Get a Birth Registration Certificate in Bangladesh
Previously the process of getting a birth registration certificate in Bangladesh was quite a hassle. For city areas, the birth registration duties fall under the domain of the respective city corporation and wards. For rural areas, the equivalent authority like the Union Parishad issues the birth registration certificate.
Up until recently, there was no digital registration process for the birth certificate. The registration had to be done through the local city corporation office or at the Union Parishad level. The documents along with the bureaucratic system made it cumbersome to obtain a birth certificate.
However, the government has made it mandatory since 2021 to register for the birth certificate online through its dedicated portal.
The application process through the online portal is much easier compared to the physical application. The detailed process is discussed in the latter part. But first, let’s look at the essential documents for the application. And there are a lot of them.
Required Documents for Birth Registration Certificate
There are several alternating documents associated with birth registration. The documents are meticulously vetted by the registration officer. The documents required for birth certificate registration online are similar to the ones required for physical application.
However, there have been some changes to make the process more transparent and smoother.
The current application is divided into two different types – registration of children below the age of five and registration above five. The documents required for each of these are also different.
Documents for Registration Under the Age of Five
The list of documents includes –
Attested Copy EPI Card
The EPI or Extended Program on Immunization is a state-sponsored vaccination program against contagious and fatal diseases. Every toddler is issued an EPI card at birth to track the successive vaccinations. An attested copy of the EPI card can be attached to the application.
Attested Copy of Birth Certification by the Hospital
The hospital issues a clearance/ birth certificate for every newborn. This document needs to be attested and attached with the application.
Other Documents
In case none of the above documents is available for the newborn, the office of registration may ask for other relevant documentation as it may seem fit.
Documents for Registration Over the Age of Five
The list of documents includes –
Clearance Certificate from Locality
The applicant needs to provide two clearance certificates. One should be from an MBBS doctor certifying the age. And Another is the clearance certificate issued by the ward councilor or chairman of the permanent residence of the applicant.
Certification From Educational Institute
Certification from the school or college principal regarding age and residence can be submitted as an alternative document.
In addition to these two, the documents mentioned for registration under five can also be attested and submitted as part of the vetting process.
Other Documents
In case of unavailability of all of the documents mentioned above, the office of registration will determine a set of the document as it may seem fit. The applicant must submit those documents to prove their age and residency status.
The online Application process for Birth Registration Certificate
The online application is completed in several steps. These include –
– Visiting the Birth Registration website designated for the same.
– Select “New application” from the menu.
– Selecting either permanent or current address for verification.
– On the second page, the applicant needs to fill out personal information and birthplace information.
– On the third page, parental information should be filled out.
– For anyone born after 2000, the birth certificate of parents will be required for application.
– After that, the applicant needs to fill out permanent and current address details.
– The last page will show all the provided information in an application form.
– The application form should be submitted and printed out.
The birth registration process in Bangladesh is still not completely automated. The primary application can be submitted online. But the relevant attachments require physical intervention. Applicants need to download and print the applicant form. They should attach the relevant documents with the application and submit them to the ward office.
Usually, it takes 15 days for the birth certificate to be approved. But there are currently about 100,000 applicants per day. The oncoming applications have created a huge backlog. As a result, it might take a few weeks to months even.
For children born to Bangladeshi parents abroad, the same process should be followed. But instead of a verification address, the applicant needs to choose the Bangladeshi consulate.
Final Words
The process of birth registration certificates is now easier than ever. All thanks to the online application portal. However, the infrastructure of verification is still very weak and slow. And there is the issue of rampant corruption. The situation will eventually get better but it is still a long shot from complete automation.
Source: United News of Bangladesh