Rights activists at a discussion on Sunday said that the information commission turned into a key barrier to getting information and they demanded that the commission be reformed for making it functional.
The Right to Information Forum, a platform of 35 non-government organisations and activists, organised the discussion at NGO Affairs Bureau auditorium in the capital marking the International Day for Universal Access to Information.
They also demanded bringing the political parties under the RTI Act for transparency and accountability of the parties as well.
Transparency International Bangladesh executive director Iftekharuzzaman said that, like other commissions, the information commission has become a rehabilitation centre for retired bureaucrats who once suppressed people鈥檚 rights to information.
鈥業n the previous years, ruling party people were appointed in the commission,鈥� he said.
He proposed changing the mode of appointment of commissioners and suggested taking opinion from the stakeholders.
People are reluctant to apply for information as they are denied and usually face harassment to get information, he said.
Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar said that, to him, the information commission was the main barrier to get information under the RTI Act.
鈥業 was harassed for asking information and denied information finally,鈥� he said.
He said that the aim of the RTI was to stop corruption, increase accountability and transparency. This is why, different quarters made the act dysfunctional, he said.
He demanded bringing the political parties under the RTI coverage as the leaders cannot practise transparency and democracy at the national level without practising in respective parties.
The speakers said the powerful agencies of the government forcibly collect personal information illegally.
They said that the same situation had been prevailing even now after the ousting of the autocratic rule. Though the rulers are ousted but their system and people are still in places and doing the same, they alleged.
As chief guest, law adviser Asif Nazrul said that still there was huge lack of awareness of RTI. Other rights of a citizen cannot be protected without the right to information.
He urged the right to information platform activists to speak about the judiciary, administration, law, human rights and people鈥檚 right to vote also.
鈥楳any activists were seen not to speak during the crisis time of the country,鈥� he said.
Manusher Jonno Foundation executive director Shaheen Anam presented the keynote of the discussion where among others Media Resources Development Initiative executive director Hasibur Rahman, cabinet division secretary for coordination and reforms Mahmudul Hossain Khan, NGO Affairs Bureau director Anwar Hossain and top officials of government and non-government organisations spoke.
NGO affairs bureau director general Saidur Rahman chaired the event moderated by chief executive of iSocial Ananya Raihan.