The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Government has completed free of cost birth registration of nearly six crore people in as many years. The registration of birth on payment begins from today and is likely to discourage people from participating in the project.

The free birth registration project began in 2002, which got momentum during the present caretaker government. Under the project about 40 per cent people of six divisions completed the registration free of cost.

Project officials expressed fear about the success of the birth registration project in the second phase, as the people can avail the same facilities through Voter Identity Card. They opined that only a handful of people would participate in the paid birth registration project.

According to the Birth Registration Act, a person registering birth under Union Parishad and Pourashava would be charged Tk 5 annually except for the first two years, whereas, a person under City Corporations and Cantonment areas would be charged Tk 10 per annum after first two years.

Under Union Parishad and Pourashava the birth certificate in Bengali and English would cost Tk 20 and Tk 50 respectively, whereas, the cost would be Tk 50 and Tk 100 for those versions in City Corporations and Cantonment areas.

Besides the people of Union Parishad and Pourashava have to pay Tk 10 for the amendment of information, whereas, the people of City Corporations and Cantonment areas have to pay double the amount for the same reason.

According to this calculation, a 42-year old person, living under City Corporation or Cantonment area, would be charged Tk 400 and he would have to pay an additional Tk 120 for the English version of his birth certificate and for any amendment.

When the common people were asked about the on payment birth registration project they expressed total indifference.

They opined if the existing voter identity card can avail passport issuing, marriage registration, admission to educational institutions, employment in government and non-government organisations, asset registration and other facilities then why should people pay extra money for birth registration.

Project Director and Joint Secretary of Local Government, AKM Saiful Islam Chowdhury said the birth registration project was important to know the total number of people under 18 years of age and information about them.

He also informed that in order to withdraw the charge fixed for registration the law need to be changed.

When questioned about the failure to register expected number of the population Saiful Islam said due to lack of manpower they could not reach their target.

Christine Jaulmes, Chief of the Communication and Information of UNICEF suggested extension of the duration of free birth registration until December 2009.

She said Birth Registration serves not only as a legal age verification document that establishes every person's identity, but also as a tool that pave the way to realising other human rights.

Azizur Rahman, child protection officer of UNICEF opined that if the National Identity Card were considered as birth certificate there would be no need of birth registration for the National Identity Card holders.