Documentary on Information as Right: use of RTI Act by civil rights activists.
Documentary on Information as Right: use of RTI Act by civil rights activists.
Is there light at the end of the tunnel?
The Daily Star November 15, 2020
Shamsul Bari and Ruhi Naz
Reva Rani of Taraganj Upazila of Rangpur District was determined to bring electricity to her home. But, all her efforts, including payment of “speed money”, failed. Then she learnt about the Right to Information (RTI) Act from a group of NGO activists; she applied to the local electricity office for information on the process and cost of obtaining a connection. Her application and subsequent appeal went unanswered, whereupon she filed a complaint to the Information Commission. But before the complaint hearing the local electricity office called her in and gave her the information she sought. Read More.
We need an independent and neutral Information Commission
The Daily Star October 15, 2020
Shamsul Bari and Ruhi Naz
From its onset in early 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic has damaged trust in governments. As governments fumbled with different approaches, citizens’ distrust of them increased in tandem. Allegations of misinformation, disinformation and lack of information polluted the atmosphere.The chaos, however, gave hope to transparency enthusiasts that the experience would help governments realise the extraordinary importance of proper information sharing in democratic governance and hence the need for them to pay greater attention to proper implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Read More.
International Right to Know Day must generate serious reflections by all sides
The Daily Star, September 16, 2020
Shamsul Bari and Ruhi Naz
September is an important month for Right to Information (RTI) buffs all over the world. They undertake various activities during the month to commemorate the International Right to Know Day on September 28 with two key focus points. One, to remind citizens that the RTI Act provides them with a legal basis to find out if their government is managing the affairs of the state effectively, efficiently and honestly. And two, to remind governments that they have a duty of transparency and accountability towards their citizens, who are entitled to access nearly all information available within public offices. Read More.
Trust lost between governments and citizens during Covid-19 pandemic?
Daily Star, August 17, 2020
RTI/FOI can help to retrieve it
Shamsul Bari and Ruhi Naz
The relationship between governments and the people has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in many countries. Except in a few countries, people found it difficult to believe the government’s information. They saw vast discrepancies between the reality and what they were told. Governments did not trust their citizens to “do the right thing”, and imposed measures rather than seeking cooperation. Ultimately, this lack of mutual trust made efforts to contain the virus more difficult. Read More.
