তথ্য অধিকার আইন

The Daily Star, Monday, October 16, 2023

Shamsul Bari and Ruhi Naz

The importance of people’s right to information (RTI) for good governance and sustainable development is often loudly proclaimed but quietly ignored by people and governments alike. It is heartening, therefore, that a recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) report prescribed a greater role for the RTI law to prevent a recurrence of the kind of financial and political crisis faced by Sri Lanka early last year – and to assure the country’s steady recovery.

The report emerged from the Sri Lankan government’s request to the IMF earlier this year to undertake a Governance Diagnostic Assessment (GDA) of its efforts, following the crisis, to stabilise the country and its economy. These included a combination of steps to restore fiscal and debt sustainability, improve governance, and reduce corruption risks. Read more

The Daily Star, Friday, September 15, 2023

Shamsul Bari and Ruhi Naz

The experiences of Sri Lanka and Pakistan are lessons for everyone concerned with promoting the right to information.
Last month, two new commissioners were appointed to the Information Commission of Bangladesh, filling positions that had been sitting empty for some time. A fully-functional commission is indispensable for balanced, impartial, and objective decision-making, particularly for adjudicating claims between disgruntled information seekers and recalcitrant public officials. We welcome the new commissioners and wish them well in advancing the Right to Information (RTI) Act, arguably the country’s most important citizen-friendly instrument to promote transparent and accountable governance. Examples from our neighbouring countries can lead the way for our commissioners. Read more

The Daily Star, Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Shamsul Bari and Ruhi Naz

Indications of the growing maturity of RTI Act users and the increasing willingness of public officials to abide by its provisions are indeed welcome developments.

Rafiqul Islam, a madrasa teacher of Taraganj upazila in Rangpur district, was terminated from his job by the madrasa authorities in March 2014 for protesting against irregularities in the appointment of a teacher to a higher post (to which Rafiqul had also applied). In 2015, he filed a civil declaratory suit with the Assistant District Judge’s Court, challenging his termination. While his case remained pending, a certain Rezwanul Haque was appointed in his place. Read more

The Daily Star, Saturday, July 15, 2023

Shamsul Bari and Ruhi Naz

Today, we share some personal stories to show the power of law to warm the hearts of citizens who deign to use it. Often, we perceive law as something impersonal and removed from the individual, and we forget that at its heart, the law is human and personal.

Right to Information (RTI) activist Khairul Islam from Taraganj, Rangpur heard about some corrupt practices of the local Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) office from his wife who worked there. It was related to the fixed deposit accounts of employees managed by the office. Read more