Online Death Registration Suspended Nationwide

For nearly three months, online applications for death registration have remained suspended across Bangladesh amid concerns over potential data breaches, compelling citizens to submit applications in person and causing widespread inconvenience.

The disruption, which began on 21 November last year, has halted new online death registration applications, the printing of application forms, and the reissuance of certificates. Although the official website remains accessible, users report that key functions are disabled, leaving families with no alternative but to visit their local registrar’s office.

Citizens Face Added Hardship

Shyuli Akhtar, a Dhaka-based professional originally from Rajshahi, recently encountered this difficulty following her mother’s death. Despite residing in the capital, she was obliged to travel to Rajshahi to complete the registration process physically. Previously, applicants could submit forms online and collect certified copies from the relevant office with minimal delay. The suspension has effectively removed that convenience, particularly burdening those living far from their ancestral homes.

Reason for the Suspension

Officials familiar with the matter indicated that the decision followed intelligence suggesting that a network had been misusing and potentially selling sensitive personal data linked to death registrations. Particular concern arose in cases where deceased individuals lacked prior birth registration records. In such instances, authorities were required to create a birth registration before processing the death certificate, a step that exposed sensitive personal information to potential unauthorised access.

As a precautionary measure, the online application portal was temporarily disabled while security enhancements were planned. Birth registration services, however, remain operational online.

Administrative Procedure

In rural areas, applications must be submitted to the Union Parishad office, where an administrative officer or secretary acts as assistant registrar, and the chairman grants final approval. In city corporation areas, regional offices oversee the registration process.

Registration Fees

The applicable fees for birth and death registration are as follows:

Importance of Death Certificates

A death registration certificate is an essential legal document in Bangladesh. It is required for accessing government allowances, settling inheritance matters, distributing family property, processing pensions, and transferring land ownership. The suspension of online services has therefore intensified administrative pressure on bereaved families already coping with loss.

According to the Office of the Registrar General, enhanced security measures are being prepared, including the introduction of a one-time passcode system linked to the applicant’s mobile phone number. This is expected to strengthen identity verification and protect sensitive data.

The most recent available data show that on 29 January alone, 4,210 death registrations were completed nationwide, including 36 applications for corrections. Officials have suggested that the online application system may be reinstated within a week, raising hopes that normal service will soon resume and public inconvenience will be eased.