'A few clauses of Right to Information Act need change'
Speakers at a discussion in Barisal yesterday said a few flawed clauses are to be changed if Right to Information (RTI) Act is to ensure people's right to know and good governance.
Welcoming the council of advisers' approval to the much-awaited ordinance, they said there are several loopholes in the proposed ordinance, which need to be closed in order to ensure maximum disclosure of information.
Conscious Citizens Committee (CCC) of Barisal and Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) jointly organised the programme titled 'Know Information, Get Right' (Tattho Janbo, Odhikar Anbo) at Barisal BDS auditorium.
Economic development, establishment of rule of law, fighting corruption, institutionalising democracy and establishing good governance in the country cannot be achieved unless transparency and accountability is ensured in all spheres by ensuring free flow of information, speakers said.
There are many loopholes in the proposed ordinance, they said, adding that the ordinance covers up to upazila level, not up to union parishad level.
“Although the laws do not bar disclosure of information, most of the officials are using the Official Secrets Act as an excuse for not providing anyone, journalists in particular, with information,” they said.
Barisal City Corporation Mayor Shawkat Hossain Hiron, citizens and human rights activists Saifur Rahman Miron, Dr Mizanur Rahman, Dr Habibur Rahman, and Prof Syed Aminul Huq, freedom fighter Enayet Hossain Chowdhury, district Jatiya Party President Mohsinul Islam, NGO activist Anwar Zahid, trade union leader AK Azad, cultural activist Nazrul Islam Chunnu, women leader and educationist Rabeya Khatun, writer Asma Chowdhury, TIB member Kazi Selina participated in the discussion.
Barisal CCC convener Manabendra Batabayal presided over the programme.
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