Speakers at a discussion marking World Day Against Child Labour emphasized that birth registration is a powerful tool to prevent child labor in Bangladesh. They noted that registration establishes a child’s identity, protects rights, and ensures access to state services. Without registration, many children remain vulnerable to exploitation and early entry into the labor market.

The event highlighted that only 50 percent of births in Bangladesh are currently registered, and among children under five, the rate is just 40 percent. Experts proposed amending the Birth and Death Registration Act 2004 to make all health facilities legally responsible for registering births. Since about 67 percent of children are born in such facilities, this reform could significantly raise registration rates and strengthen child protection.

Speakers added that improved registration would help Bangladesh achieve full civil registration by 2030 under the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Decade and accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 8.7, which targets the elimination of child labor and all forms of child exploitation.