Online Marriage Registration to Curb Irregularities

Online marriage and divorce registration could make it easier to prevent marriage-related irregularities, child marriage and unauthorized polygamy in Bangladesh. The system is also expected to create a centralized and reliable database of marital records, allowing authorities to verify information quickly from anywhere in the country and even from abroad, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman said.

He made the remarks as the chief guest at the opening ceremony of a 10-day residential training programme titled “Use of Software and Relevant Issues in Online Marriage and Divorce Registration” at the BRAC Learning Centre in the capital on Saturday morning.

The minister said one of the key objectives of the digital system is to preserve citizens’ marital information in a reliable and integrated database. Such a database would make it easier to monitor the annual number of marriages, identify whether child marriages are taking place and assess whether marriage-related laws are being properly implemented.

Under an online marriage registration system, authorities would be able to verify whether a person has previously married, how many marriages have been registered and whether prior approval from the relevant Arbitration Council was obtained when required for a new marriage.

This, he said, could reduce opportunities for concealing previous marriages, contracting undisclosed marriages and later denying that a marriage had taken place.

The system could also allow a woman or man to check a prospective partner’s previous marriage records before making a decision. According to the minister, this could contribute to reducing the prevalence of polygamy.

Asaduzzaman said maintaining digital marital records could also help resolve disputes after a person’s death. If multiple people claim to be the deceased person’s wife or children, registered information could be used to verify the actual marital and family records. This could reduce the likelihood of such disputes and related litigation.

He said online verification could also be used when marital information is required for travel or other procedures abroad. Relevant authorities would be able to check registered information online, reducing the need to contact multiple government offices through conventional procedures.

The minister also outlined plans to gradually integrate marriage registration data with other government databases, including the national identity, birth registration and passport databases.

He said interconnected government information systems would make identity and related data verification faster and more effective. As the world is rapidly moving towards technology-driven systems, Bangladesh must also keep pace with this transformation, he added.

The training programme is being conducted under the pilot project titled “Civil Registration and Vital Statistics: ICT Infrastructure Development for Marriage and Divorce Registration.”

A total of 27 marriage and divorce registrars, known as Nikah Registrars, from five districts are participating in the training.

The programme provides practical training on the use of online marriage and divorce registration software, registration procedures, data storage and other related areas.

Addressing the Nikah Registrars, Asaduzzaman said they are engaged in a respected profession with an important social role. Their skills and preparedness will be critical to the introduction of the online registration system.

Those receiving the training will not only develop their own skills but will also help prepare other Nikah Registrars in their respective areas. Eventually, all Nikah Registrars across the country will be brought under the training programme, he said.

The minister also said an initiative has been taken to introduce a lottery-based posting system for sub-registrars in Dhaka district as part of efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability in public services.

He said postings through a lottery in accordance with applicable rules could reduce prolonged service at the same location and limit opportunities for lobbying over postings.

Appropriate measures will also be taken regarding Nikah Registrars, he said. The government will also take steps to formulate an updated law so that successors of existing Nikah Registrars may have an opportunity to receive priority when entering the profession.

Law and Justice Division Secretary Liaquat Ali Molla chaired the programme.

Additional Secretaries Md Khadem-ul-Qayes and SM Ershadul Alam, Director General of the Bangladesh Legal Aid Services Directorate Md Manzurul Hossain, Inspector General of the Directorate of Registration Shamima Afroze, Project Director Md Azizul Haque, BRAC Social Empowerment and Legal Protection Programme (SELP) Director Shashwoti Biplob, and officials from the Law and Justice Division and BRAC were also present.

//DBTech/DRKP/SMP/MVNO//