তথ্য অধিকার আইন

Monday, September 16, 2024

Shamsul Bari and Ruhi Naz

Since the formation of a new popular government in Bangladesh in August 2024, the prevailing theme in the country has been reform and change of the entire governance mechanism. A popular outcry, particularly from students and the youth in general who led the movement to oust the previous regime, has called for a complete overhaul of all branches of the government, which have been mired in years of corruption and malpractice. The catchphrase for change is the establishment of transparency and accountability for all public servants to the people they serve.

While experts work out the reforms, citizens are also responsible for playing a more decisive role in holding all future governments and their administrative units accountable. For that, they can resort to an existing, readily available law: the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2009. Similar laws exist under different names in various parts of the world, mostly known as Freedom of Information (FOI) laws. In Bangladesh, the RTI law was first introduced as an ordinance by the caretaker government in 2008 and later adopted as an act by the new parliament in 2009. Read more

Monday, August 19, 2024

Shamsul Bari and Ruhi Naz

Now is the opportunity for our youth to lead us in using existing laws to build a better country

The seismic changes in Bangladesh in three fateful weeks—from mid-July to early August—were a powerful testament to people’s power. The induction of an interim government led by Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus has been a harbinger of hope for the country’s Right to Information (RTI) Act. This law can help meet the nation’s cry for systemic change in governance.

Over the years, this column has lamented that a powerful law like the RTI Act has not been utilised to its full extent. More than a handful of activists and individual citizens have used it, but Bangladesh’s civil society, known for its stand on public issues, has largely stayed away. One reason for this was the fear of possible reprisal by the authorities facing information requests on sensitive matters that may expose their misdeeds. Read more

Monday, July 15, 2024

Shamsul Bari and Ruhi Naz

Recently, there has been a perceptible increase in government advertisements promoting the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2009, particularly on television. This is welcome news, indicating government recognition of the citizens’ role in advancing good governance. The RTI Act was adopted, as enunciated in its preamble, to empower citizens to monitor the work of public offices by seeking relevant information on how they do their jobs. However, this is a complex task, as citizens must first understand the law’s myriad possibilities to use it effectively.

Regrettably, there is still a significant lack of awareness about the full potential of the RTI Act. Due to its extensive nature, promoting its use through simple awareness sessions and advertisements is proving to be a challenging, if not impossible, task. The slogans used in ads, such as “Information is power,” “Know your rights, ask for information,” and “Access to Information is a citizen’s right,” may not resonate with the people. They require assistance in understanding the reasons for seeking information in the first place. Most individuals believe that information is only necessary for specific purposes and should be sought as and when required. Few realise that the law’s primary objective is not to serve citizens’ personal information needs, but to promote the larger public interest. They also need help in identifying specific goals for using the law. Read more

Saturday, June 15, 2024

Shamsul Bari and Ruhi Naz

There is conflicting feedback from our readers on the operation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act in the country. Some believe that in the existing political climate, there is little scope for the success of a law that seeks to empower citizens to probe into the government’s inner workings. Others consider that by building incremental gains achieved through developing a close working relationship between government officials and citizens based on low-level RTI interventions, a culture of openness can be cultivated where deeper probes may be possible.

As a result, the more knowledgeable and upper echelons of society with a better understanding of how the government works have largely avoided the law. In contrast, those at the grassroots level with little knowledge about the intricacies of governance, but more interested in ensuring that the government fulfils its responsibilities to the people, have found the law useful and convenient. Read more