Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan piloted the "Birth and Death Registration Bill 2004" which was passed by voice vote rejecting the opposition's amendments.

With the passage of the bill, the Birth and Death Registration Act of 1873 was repealed totally, while the Birth, Death and Marriage Registration Act of 1886 partially.

Under the provision of the bill, birth certificates will have to be shown for passport, marriage registration and admission to an educational institution. Such certificates will also be needed for jobs in government, private or autonomous bodies, driving licences, enrolment of names in the voter list and land registration.

Admission to a school will be possible initially without the birth certificate, but it will have to be submitted within 45 days of admission.

The punishment for violation of the law will be a fine of Tk 500 or maximum two months' jail or both.

The city corporations, municipalities, union parishads, cantonment boards or in case of expatriate Bangladeshis the mission concerned will discharge the responsibility of registration.

In case of a birth, the parents or a guardian will register within 45 days. The registration will be possible even if the newborn does not have a name at the time. But the name must be submitted within 45 days of the registration.

For a death, the registration will have to be done within 30 days by the deceased's son or daughter or guardian.

Under the bill, if a mandatory registration does not take place in due time, a late registration will be possible with stipulated procedures and fees. However, within two year of enactment of the law, no fee will be required.

The birth or death certificate will be acceptable to any government or private organisation, schools, colleges or offices and courts to prove the age and birth or death of a person.