With this end in view, universal birth registration programme was launched yesterday to bring cent percent population under the birth registration within the next two years.

LGRD and Co-operatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan launched the programme at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city.

"Birth and death registration act was first introduced in Bangladesh in 1873 but it was not implemented due to lack of awareness of people. But it is very important to count the age-based population and for this reason we have enacted the law adjusting the present need," said the minister.

He said birth registration will be needed in school admission, getting jobs, incorporating the name in voter list and collecting passport.

The programme will also be very helpful with regard to early marriage, child labour, child prostitution and youth detention, he added.

"Steps have been taken to prepare electronic birth registration database in city corporations, municipalities and union parishads. A software named BRIS has already been developed for making data based information," said the minister.

Bhuiyan said linking the electronic birth registrar to a child immunisation database would ensure vaccination of all registered children on time.

Speaking as special guest Health and Family Welfare Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said the birth registration will also be very helpful in medical services.

"Birth registration will ensure a healthy life as it helps determine patients' age which is essential in health services especially when doctors give prescription," he added.

Rosella Morelli, officer-in-charge of Unicef Bangladesh, said birth registration prevents early marriage, ensures that all children are enrolled in school at the right age, protects underage children from working and ensures special treatment for children in juvenile justice system.

State Minister for LGRD Ziaul Huq Zia said the Convention on the Rights of the Child states that a child shall be registered immediately after birth and shall have the right to a name, the right to acquire a nationality and the right to be cared by parents.

Secretary to Local Government Division SM Zahrul Islam presided over the function where Country Director of Plan Bangladesh Espey Ned also spoke.