Strengthen Info Commission for enforcement of RTI law

JS body suggests

26 June 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

A parliamentary body yesterday suggested that the Information Commission should be strengthened further to ensure proper enforcement of the Right to Information (RTI) law. The commission still remains in its preliminary stage with severe shortage of manpower, the parliamentary standing committee on information ministry observed at a meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in the city. The meeting was informed that only 12 people are now working in the Information Commission against the approved 66 posts. "The RTI law can be a strong tool to fight corruption and crimes. Therefore, the law should be enforced properly through strengthening the Information Commission," Obaidul Quader, chief of the parliamentary body, told reporters after the meeting. Emphasising the need to raise public awareness, Quader, also the ruling AL lawmaker, said a campaign should be launched to make the people aware of the law. At the meeting, the committee also recommended including an article on the right to information in the textbook, he said. The committee also asked the ministry to appoint manpower to the vacant posts of the Information Commission.