Moddhanagar is a newly formed upazila in Sunamganj. Although an Executive Officer has been appointed to the upazila, the vital birth and death registration service has not yet been brought under software management. Local government institutions providing services are using the software of the neighboring upazila, Dharmapasha.
As a result, approximately 1.5 lakh residents of the four unions are facing irritation and suffering. Minor errors in birth and death certificates take longer than expected to rectify and require unnecessary additional expenses. A resident, on behalf of the community, has submitted a written appeal to the authorities seeking a resolution to these issues after facing such harassment multiple times.
Yesterday, Thursday, a public interest application was submitted to the Registrar General of Birth and Death Registration, Additional Secretary, Local Government Division, Dhaka, requesting the inclusion of Moddhanagar Upazila in the birth and death registration software. The authorities have accepted the written application.
In his written statement, Asim Sarkar, a permanent resident of the Upazila Sadar Union and a poet, highlighted that Moddhanagar Upazila was announced on July 26, 2021. Since then, administrative operations and almost all official activities have been launched within a short time. However, birth and death registration corrections are still being managed from the previous upazila, Dharmapasha. Moddhanagar Upazila consists of four unions.
Submitting correction applications for birth registrations to Dharmapasha Upazila is both challenging and financially burdensome for the union residents. Many schools near the border of the upazila cannot access online English-format birth registrations, and due to travel difficulties after submitting correction requests, many students are deprived of scholarships and admission-related services. Numerous correction requests from Moddhanagar remain pending at Dharmapasha Upazila for extended periods, making it impossible for the Executive Officer of Dharmapasha to process them efficiently. Consequently, the general public and all union councils of Moddhanagar Upazila are facing significant issues.
Therefore, the concerned resident appeals for the quickest possible inclusion of “Moddhanagar Upazila” in the birth and death registration server and requests that correction-related tasks be separated from Dharmapasha Upazila and transferred to Moddhanagar.
Copies of the application have been sent to the Honorable Advisor, Local Government Division; Advisor, Ministry of Primary and Mass Education; Registrar General, Office of Birth and Death Registration, Dhaka; Sylhet Divisional Commissioner’s Office; Deputy Director, Local Government Division, Sunamganj; Executive Officer of Dharmapasha Upazila; and Executive Officer of Moddhanagar Upazila by Asim Sarkar.
