Implementation and success of RTI

Courtesy: MJF

INTERNATIONAL Right to Know Day started since 2008 on the 28th day of September when freedom of information organisations from around the world came together in Sofia, Bulgaria and created the FOI Advocates Network, a global coalition working together to promote the right of access to information for all people and the benefits of open, transparent, and accountable governments. The members of the network decided to commemorate this day as a way to share ideas, strategies, and success stories about the development of freedom of information laws and genuinely transparent governance in their own nations. Bangladesh by passing The Right to Information Act 2009 joined the rest of the 75 countries in the world with RTI regimes.

The Law & Our Rights page observes this day with the help of Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) who are set to achieve people's rights in places where they are ignored.

To pass a Right to Information Act in Bangladesh, Manusher Jonno Foundation has worked with more than hundred of its partner organisations and other NGO's.  They have taken a project to create awareness regarding right to information (RTI) among the government organisations and the other concern group. While doing so, they build up a partnership with the Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre to train the government officers and assist them about RTI.

It is good news that many partner organisations of the said foundation and the concern group while working with them ensured successful implementation of RTI, as a result some success case stories are shared here.

Rafiqul Islam, is a farmer and got to know about the RTI Act by attending one of the training course organised by the MJF. He also learnt that the public in general has the right to get government information.  He came to know that the Food and Disaster Management Ministry runs a safety net project called 'Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF)' to provide food security for the poor in times of famine, flood, drought and other natural disasters. This was started to facilitate the day labours, people without a regular source of income, the landless people with less than 0.15 acres of land, disabled and victims of natural disasters. After hearing that the government is helping to distribute rice, Rafiqul asked the local Project Implementation Officer (PIO) about the amount of rice that each person will receive against the policy of VGF. At first PIO refused to give the information, later when he said he is aware of the RTI Act, and that it was the PIO's duty to give the citizens information about the project, the PIO informed Rafiqul that in Lemshikhali ( Rafiqul's locality) they are entitled to get 10 kilograms of rice each.  Rafiqul managed to get this information because he was aware of his right to information.

Later at the time of rice distribution at the Union Parishad Office, the chairman ordered that each person will get 7 kilograms of rice against each VGF cards ( VGF card is needed to receive food under the VGF project). Rafiqul was aggrieved and dissatisfied with the chairman's decision and informed all the fellow villagers that he learnt from PIO that each person was supposed to receive 10 kilograms of rice. Finally, after lots of protest and demands made by the villagers to the Union Parishad  Chairman, they have settled on the payment of 9.5 kilograms of rice. This scenario clearly shows that because of the knowledge that Rafiqul had, they managed to get a just and reasonable outcome.

RTI Act also helped Mosharaf who was cheated by recruiting agencies. Mosharaf sold his land and took a loan at high interest rate. He gave the loan money to a recruiting agency with hope that his three sons will go abroad for their better future.  Year passed, but he received no news from that recruiting agency. At one point Mosaraf lost all his hope.

Later, Mosharaf came in contact with Assistance for Human resource Development with Technology (AHRDT). He also became a member of a committee working with the rights of the migrant workers. Gradually, he learnt a lot about migrant workers and found out that the government's Manpower Employment Training Bureau (BMET) deals with the online complaints about fraudulence of recruiting agencies. He then complained to BMET online about the fraudulence of the recruiting agency and also went to BMET several times to get a hearing but unfortunately nothing effective happened. Even the MRPC and AHRDT could not help him about this either.

However, thanks to Manusher Jonno Foundation who hosted a daylong workshop about right to information in the said locality where local members of MRP and AHRDT also took part in it. They learnt how this Act support to get information and can give proper solution to their problems. After learning that the cheated workers could get justice, the workshop participants got really inspired to bring action and they also shared it with the locals about it. As a result, Mosharaf also learnt about the RTI Act and then with the help of MRPC and AHRDT filed an application to BMET and asked for the verdicts on his previous complain. He did not get any response within the stipulated time. Later he applied to the Information Commissioner, and became successful. He received a letter from BMET director general about the verdict and in the letter it was stated that Musharaf's complaint was correct and the recruiting agency would have to pay 2 lakh 52 thousand taka within a certain time and if failed to do so they will be punished according to the Immigration Ordinance 1982.

There were many other success stories shared by Manusher Jonno Foundation where people actually received the redress relying on the Right to Information Act. Such as, the RTI Act proved the illegality of the BGMEA Bhaban, people started keeping eye on the government spending to ensure the quality of work, landless people forced the Union Parishad to change the unjust Policy, there where protest to ensure rural healthcare facilities and so on.

The NGO's and organisations like Manusher Jonno Foundation should continue to work as a leader of implementing the law. The civil society should not be an exception in this regard. Great and noticeable initiatives have been taken to ensure the right to information, but still it is below the standard of expectations. There should be more awareness programmes throughout the country.  Also the proper implementation of the RTI Act should be ensured by giving constant effort.

Compiled by Law Desk.