Dhaka:Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Moyeen Khan has highlighted a significant discrepancy between the actual population of the country and the data in the birth and death registration database, urging for urgent corrective measures.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Minister Moyeen Khan expressed concern that while the country's population is nearly 19 crore, the registration database contains data for far more than this number. Speaking at a discussion for "National Birth and Death Registration Day 2026" in Karwan Bazar, he emphasized the need for an accurate and credible registration system.
The minister stressed that birth and death registration is crucial for national administration and should be used to serve people, not obstruct services. He stated that the primary responsibility of an elected government is to serve the public and that officials should work responsibly to meet voters' expectations.
Minister Moyeen Khan also pointed out that technology alone cannot ensure public service, highlighting the importance of accountability among those who implement it. He emphasized that citizens should not have to make repeated trips for simple documents like birth certificates.
State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam, serving as a special guest, noted that birth and death registration was initiated in 2001 with UNICEF's support. He reported that there are currently 24.88 crore birth registrations and 58.19 lakh death registrations, contrasting with the 2022 census population of around 17 crore, which distorts national statistics.
The state minister described the Birth and Death Registration Information System (BDRIS) as foundational for the "One Citizen, One ID, One Digital Wallet" initiative and called for increased awareness to improve grassroots registration accuracy. He also mentioned the government's decision to reintroduce the Gram Sarkar system to enhance village-level registration precision.
Awards were presented at the event to recognize excellence in registration accuracy.