Change mindset to implement RTI Act
Zamir asks information providers and seekers
Changes in the mindset of the both the information providers and seekers are imperative to implement the Right to Information (RTI) Act, Chief Information Commissioner Muhammad Zamir said yesterday.
He said although awareness about the act has been raised for efforts of different organisations, there still remains a mentality of nurturing the culture of secrecy, disinterest to give information, and absence of active citizen to get information.
The commissioner was addressing a rally organised jointly by Tathya Odhikar Andolan (Campaign on Citizen Rights to Information) and Nagorik Uddyog at Jatiya Press Club marking the International Right to Know Day 2011 yesterday, says a press release.
Earlier, a procession led by Muhammad Zamir was brought out from in front of National Museum to create awareness about the implementation of RTI act.
Different organisations arranged the programmes to mark the day.
The chief information commissioner said the successful implementation of RTI act would be possible only when the movement of right to information would take the form of a massive social movement and when different professionals would apply to get information on public interest.
Another press release said speakers at a human chain yesterday demanded the government take effective measures to implement the RTI act. They said it is possible to ensure people's participation in government's policy decisions through ensuring right to know.
Sushasaner Jonno Procharavijan (Supro) or Campaign for Good Governance and other like-minded organisations organised the programme in front of National Museum.
Meanwhile, a two-day long information fair organised by Transparency International Bangladesh, Savar Upazila Parishad, and Shacheton Nagorik Committee, Savar, on Savar upazila office premises ended yesterday, says another press release.
The theme of the fair was "Right to information is prerequisite to meet people's other basic rights". Hundreds of people were provided information free of cost at about 50 stalls of the government and non-government organisations in the fair.
Debate competition, discussions, and photo exhibitions on the liberation war, and anti-corruption cartoons marked the last day.
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