Dhaka Birth Certificate Problems | No Councillors, No Quick Services. Obtaining a birth certificate in Dhaka has become a daunting task for many citizens due to the recent administrative changes. With the removal of all city corporation councillors, residents now face lengthy delays and bureaucratic hurdles while trying to access essential documents.
Struggle for Urgent Birth Certificates
Mohammad Ziaul Haque, a private sector employee, recently experienced extreme difficulties while trying to obtain birth certificates for his family members. Upon visiting the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Zonal Office in Mohammadpur, he was redirected to the Ward-27 Councillor’s Office in Farmgate, only to find it closed.
Further frustration ensued when he was given the ward secretary’s phone number, but his calls went unanswered throughout the day. “We need the birth certificates urgently for passport applications. But the entire process has become chaotic,” lamented Ziaul.
Ziaul’s case is not isolated. On the same day, approximately 25 other individuals visited the office for various certificates but had to return empty-handed.
Lack of Councillors and Service Delays
The absence of councillors has significantly impacted the efficiency of city corporation services. A staff member from the Ward-27 office admitted that their office remains closed most of the time, with the secretary making brief, unpredictable appearances.
This situation is not unique to Ward-27. Across Dhaka North and South City Corporations, similar complaints have emerged. The transition period following the removal of councillors on September 27 has created severe disruptions in service delivery. Now, ward secretaries are responsible for issuing certificates, but the process has become cumbersome.
Increased Processing Time for Birth Certificates
Previously, councillors could issue birth certificates, citizen certificates, income certificates, death certificates, voter ID correction certificates, and warisan (succession) certificates in under an hour. However, due to the new verification procedures, it now takes three to five working days to process a birth certificate.
The zonal office must now approve all certificates, adding to the delays. This bureaucratic bottleneck has severely affected residents who require documents urgently.
Citizens Struggle Without Councillors
Many residents recall a time when they could approach their ward councillors directly for services. With councillors gone, the ward secretaries—who are unfamiliar with many residents—are strictly adhering to bureaucratic policies, making it more difficult to obtain necessary documents.
For example, a woman in her mid-50s was recently seen struggling to obtain a succession certificate from the Ward-16 office in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). The ward secretary informed her that she required the consent of all heirs, but her elder brother—who has been out of contact for years—was unavailable.
“If the councillor was in charge, I wouldn’t have faced this much hassle, as he knew our family,” she expressed in frustration.
Bureaucratic Procedures and Increased Workload
Ward secretaries, including Md Badruzzaman of Ward-16 and Zahirul Islam of Ward-15, have acknowledged that the process is more complicated now. Each application must be sent to the zonal office for verification, which adds to the time required.
Since services resumed on October 9, secretaries have been overwhelmed by the number of service seekers. On average, 100 people visit each ward office daily to apply for birth certificates and other documents, leading to massive delays.
Impact on Daily Life
The new process has caused significant inconvenience to many residents, particularly working professionals like Mohammad Shajahan from Ward-15, who needs a birth certificate for his five-year-old daughter’s school admission.
“Previously, I could get a birth certificate in an hour. Now, I have to wait five days. As a job holder, it’s difficult for me to take time off multiple times to visit the office,” Shajahan complained.
Moreover, ward secretaries do not stay after office hours, further complicating the situation for employed citizens.
Steps Taken by City Corporations
In response to these growing concerns, Md Abu Naser, Public Relations Officer of DSCC, stated that they are working on streamlining the process at the ward level to improve service delivery.
However, efforts remain inadequate, and many residents continue to face difficulties in obtaining essential documents.
Conclusion
The lack of councillors in Dhaka North and South City Corporations has severely impacted the efficiency of issuing birth certificates and other essential documents. The bureaucratic hurdles, prolonged processing times, and lack of accessibility to ward secretaries have left many citizens frustrated and struggling to obtain urgent paperwork.