Why the government must prioritise RTI
March 15, 2026
By Shamsul Bari and Ruhi Naz
After the first cabinet meeting of the new BNP government on February 18, a 180-day priority
plan was announced focusing on controlling commodity prices, maintaining law and order,
stabilising supply chains, and ensuring uninterrupted gas and electricity supply. Given the
difficult inheritance from the interim administration, setting these priorities was expected as they
addressed the immediate anxieties of ordinary households and the basic conditions for economic
stability.
However, if the government truly intends to deliver on these commitments, and sustain public
confidence while doing so, it must tackle a less visible but more decisive requirement: a
governance system that is transparent, accountable, and responsive to citizens. Without that
foundation, even well-designed welfare programmes can be weakened by information gaps,
weak monitoring, and administrative inertia.
