How RTI activists keep the law alive
Dec 15, 2025
‘It is equally fundamental that all political parties seeking a mandate to govern uphold and promote the RTI Act as a cornerstone of good governance and participatory democracy.’ FILE VISUAL: ANWAR SOHEL
The absence of Bangladesh’s three information commissioners—vacancies that, almost a year and a half on—have left the Right to Information (RTI) regime severely debilitated, with replacements still inexplicably pending. However, instead of lamenting about it today, let’s learn how the country’s dedicated RTI activists—our “RTI warriors”—are coping with the situation. Trained over the years by a handful of committed NGOs, these individuals are locally recognised for helping people use the law to promote transparency and oversight in governance. In the absence of a functioning information commission, their work has become riskier and more complex, demanding greater perseverance and strategic acuity.
Encouragingly, although some have grown disheartened and stepped back, a significant number continue with remarkable determination and tenacity. Rather than retreating in the face of bureaucratic inertia, these RTI warriors have adopted a strategy of persistence: signalling to public officials that—even without formal oversight—citizens remain vigilant, committed to monitoring public services, and prepared to demand accountability.
