RTI act still unknown to many: Experts
Three years into the enactment of Right to Information (RTI) Act in the country and yet information seekers and officials concerned hesitate to ask for and give information as many of them lack proper knowledge of the act, said speakers at a seminar yesterday.
They urged all stakeholders to help properly implement the act for ensuring transparency and accountability in all areas of society.
The seminar titled 'Right to information: Making the difference' was organised by Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) in partnership with USAID Progati at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in the capital.
Some kind of fear acts among the public servants and information officers who think that they might face problem if they provide information, said Shaheen Anam, convener of RTI Forum and executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation.
“Years of practicing the culture of secrecy cannot go away in a couple of years just because we have a law,” she said, adding that, “But we should not be discouraged.”
"We have got this law and the only place we will go with this is forward,” she said.
This needs the cooperation of all since the government alone cannot ensure full implementation of the act, she added.
She also urged the NGO communities to come forward and use the law responsibly for establishing citizens' rights.
Information Commissioner MA Taher said the main purpose of the act is yet to be served as none, be it journalists or NGO activists, could trace out any corruption or irregularities using the RTI tool in the last three years of its existence.
If the act could be properly utilised, the government would be more alert and people better served by now, he said.
Referring to Padma bridge issue, he said the journalists could approach the information commission or the communication ministry's designated information officers to gather details in this regard.
"We must go to them and ask them why they did not give the information,” he added.
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan W Mozena said the RTI Act is an important step in ensuring transparency and accountability in Bangladesh's democracy.
"It is a tool for everyone - the media, civil society, lawyers, researchers, teachers, general citizens - to access information from the government," he said.
As the RTI Act matures, as the government becomes increasingly responsive to requests from the citizenry for information, and as media, civil society and citizens individually learn how to better use the act to acquire information, then Bangladesh's democracy will take deeper root and become even stronger, the envoy said.
Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad said, the RTI Act is not final, it can be amended anytime.
“If the civil society approaches for amendment of the act we must look into it,” he added.
Boishakhi TV Editor-in-Chief and CEO Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul moderated the seminar while MRDI Executive Director Hasibur Rahman also spoke among others.
Meanwhile, two books were launched at the programme.
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