HC issues rule for resuming birth registration in Cox’s Bazar

The High Court today issued a rule asking the government and the Election Commission (EC) to explain in four weeks why they should not be directed to resume birth registration of people at four municipalities and 71 unions in Cox's Bazar.

In the rule the court asked the respondents to show cause why their inaction to resume birth registration at Cox's Bazar, Chakoria, Maheskhali and Teknaf municipalities and 71 unions of the district should not be declared illegal, Deputy Attorney General Abdullah-Al-Mahmud Bashar told The Daily Star.

LGRD secretary, home secretary, EC, registrar general of birth and death, divisional commissioner of Chattogram and its deputy commissioner have been made respondents to the rule.

The HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader came up with the rule following a writ petition filed by Nashreen Siddiqua Lina, a Supreme Court lawyer and residence of Cox's Bazar, on October 14 seeking its order on the respondents to resume the birth registration in the areas.

Citing the writ petition, Advocate Nashreen Siddiqua Lina told The Daily Star that birth registration of children at Cox's Bazar, Chakoria, Maheskhali and Teknaf municipalities and 71 unions has reportedly been suspended on August 25, 2017 when Rohingay people fled to Cox's Bazar from Myanmar.

Biometric registration of 11.4 lakh Rohingya people has already been completed, but the sufferings of Cox's Bazar people regarding birth registration have been ended, the petitioner said.

She also said that the suspension of birth registration is contradictory to the constitution.