Staff Correspondent

Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan has affirmed that serving the public is the primary responsibility of an elected government, urging public representatives and civil servants to execute their duties with utmost accountability to fulfill citizen expectations.

He made the remarks as chief guest at a discussion meeting held at the Grand Ballroom of Hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon in Dhaka on Tuesday, organized by the Office of the Registrar General, Birth and Death Registration, under the Local Government Division, to mark National Birth and Death Registration Day 2026. State Minister for LGRD Mir Shahe Alam was present as a special guest.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan emphasized that while their operational methods may differ, both public servants and elected officials share a singular goal: serving the people. 

Addressing birth and death registration, the LGRD Minister expressed concern over data discrepancies between the national registration database and actual population figures. He noted that in a country with nearly 190 million people, having significantly higher numbers recorded in the database raises serious questions about data accuracy. 

 State Minister for LGRD Mir Shahe Alam recalled historical policy milestones, noting that the birth and death registration framework was initiated in 2001 with UNICEF assistance under former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, incorporating mothers' identities alongside fathers'. Pointing out that current records show 248.8 million birth registrations and 5.819 million death registrations against a census population of around 170 million, he called for comprehensive data cleanup.

Mir Shahe Alam stated that the Birth and Death Registration Information System (BDRIS) serves as a foundational component for the government's 'One Citizen, One ID, One Digital Wallet' initiative. He also highlighted the government's policy decision to reinstate the Gram Sarkar system—originally envisioned by martyred President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia—noting it would ensure precision in grassroots birth and death recording.

Chaired by Local Government Division Secretary Md. Shahidul Hassan, the event was attended by ICT Division Secretary Md. Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan, Cabinet Division Secretary (Coordination and Reforms) Farah Shammi, European Union Delegation Head of Development Cooperation Dr. Michal Krejza, and UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh Gillian Mellsop.

Awards recognizing excellence and accuracy in birth and death registration were presented across various categories to the Deputy Director (Local Govt) of Dhaka District, UNO of Shibganj in Chapainawabganj, the Bangladesh Consulate General in Dubai, the Dhaka Cantonment Board, Dhaka North and South City Corporations, and Rajshahi City Corporation, alongside several municipalities and Union Parishads.