RTI Act Implementation
Lack of understanding obstacle, say speakers
Lack of citizens' understanding about the Right to Information (RTI) Act and non-cooperation from authorities in providing information are holding back the act's successful implementation, said speakers at a discussion yesterday.
The discussants also identified the low number of campaigns to make the law understandable to people and lack of infrastructure to preserve information as the two key factors behind the act's low popularity in the last two years.
The discussion titled “Two Years of RTI in Bangladesh: An assessment” was organised by Research Initiatives, Bangladesh (RIB), Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (Blast) and Nijera Kori in the city's Jatiya Press Club.
There is no alternative to preserving information to establish people's right to information, said Chief Information Commissioner Muhammad Zamir, speaking as the chief guest.
Zamir said the additional activities needed to be carried out by the designated officers who provide information to people should be recognised to encourage them.
They should have access to computers, scanners, photocopier machines and other equipment to preserve and provide the information, he observed.
Expressing dissatisfaction as the Supreme Court did not designate any official to provide information, Zamir said it is people's right to access information about their cases in the court.
He called upon the civil society and media to make people more aware about their right to information and the function of the act.
Information Commissioner Prof Sadeka Halim stressed the need to involve both the government and non-government bodies to implement the act properly.
Although lawmakers passed the act in parliament, many of them do not encourage its implementation in their constituency, she pointed out.
Dhaka University teacher Robaet Ferdous said people should be made to understand what type of information to seek from the authorities. Information involving corruption in government offices should be inquired to ensure accountability, he added.
The political parties and the legal community did not express much interest to use the law in getting information. Orientation and training among public authorities on the objectives of the act is essential, observed speakers.
RIB Chairman Shamsul Bari moderated the programme where Blast Honorary Director Sara Hossain and Nijera Kori Coordinator Khushi Kabir also spoke.
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