Right to Information Act
Implementation requires increased demand
The Right to Information (RTI) Act's implementation faces a setback unless people actually demand information to improve livelihoods, observed speakers at a seminar yesterday.
Lack of awareness and an age-old culture that refuses to disseminate information mainly hamper the act's implementation, they said, urging civil society organisations to make people understand the necessity of information.
RTI Forum, a network of several civil society organisations, organised the seminar, “People's participation in realising right to information”, in the capital's Bangladesh Shishu Academy marking Right to Know Day today.
Institute of Informatics and Development Chief Executive Syeed Ahmed said ongoing campaigns prioritised ensuring transparency but the issue of improving lives through information was overlooked.
“We don't want to see this (RTI Act) as just an act, we want its implementation,” said Nijera Kori Executive Director Khushi Kabir.
She underscored the need to change the mindset of officials concerned as they still think that their power and status would go away once they provide information.
Information Commissioner Prof Sadeka Halim said the act's implementation was a challenge as many Bangladeshis were illiterate and only 0.4 percent had internet access.
Shaheen Anam, convenor of RTI Forum and executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation, urged NGOs to submit names of their designated officers to the Information Commission.
Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman presided over the seminar.
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