The Daily Star ;Wednesday, September 22, 2010; BANGLADESH;
Senior leaders and policymakers of the ruling Awami League yesterday blasted prime minister's adviser Dr Syed Modasser Ali for his comments apparently disparaging the right to information.
They said such remarks are “anti-people” and against the policies of this government.
The leaders also slammed Modasser's statement that only AL men would be recruited for union parishad community clinics. They said it contradicts Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's instructions to ensure recruitment on merit.
Modasser, health affairs adviser to the prime minister, on Monday said the health department would not give any information to journalists.
Speaking at Gopalganj Sadar Hospital, he also said none outside AL would be selected for 13,350 posts at the community clinics.
Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, the adviser sought to clarify his statements. He said he was not referring to health ministry's information in general; rather he was asking the officials not to share information on tender evaluations at the civil surgeon's office.
Explaining the context of his comments, he said when a journalist asked him repeatedly to direct the head clerk of the district civil surgeon's office to give him information on tenders, he told him, “This is not the government system; it will not go. This is my order.”
He said he is not against the right to information. "But there's a system for getting information. One just cannot get information from office clerks and peons. He must go to an authorised person through a proper procedure.
"I personally believe free flow of information should be there. The government should not hide anything from the media, as that might create a gap between people and the government, which is not good."
About instructions to recruit only from among the party faithful, he said he believes those who have been deprived since 2001 deserve priority in getting government jobs.
He, however, yesterday said the recruitment would be based on qualifications. “But, if 50 people qualify for a single post in a union parishad clinic, whom should we appoint? We will of course try to have a party man in that case."
Asked if he said he would bring down the GPA requirement to 2.00 from 2.5, the adviser said many UP chairmen complain they are not getting candidates with GPA 2.5, and in that context he said the government would revise the criteria.
Obaidul Quader, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the information ministry, yesterday said the government believes in free flow of information and that is why it has passed the right to information (RTI) act.
“Now it would be very embarrassing for the government if any of its high-ups speaks against the spirit of the RTI,” he added.
"Statements against free flow of information would lead to a conflict between the government and public, and that will in the end go against the government," said Quader, also AL presidium member.
About “plans” to recruit only party men at the community clinics, he said all recruitments should be made as per qualifications, not on political consideration.
He, on that point, recalled the prime minister's repeated pledge that no-one would be considered for any public service appointment unless he qualifies in written test.
The AL policymaker also observed that recruitment only on political considerations would hamper the government's development activities.
Speaking in return for anonymity, a veteran parliamentarian who is also a legal expert told The Daily Star the government is bound to give information to the people as per the RTI act. "If the adviser gives any statement contradicting that law, it would go against the government," he observed.
Chief Information Commissioner Muhammad Zamir said, "Right to information is a fundamental right and we all should defend it.”
He noted that the right to information is meant to facilitate free flow of information, a must for good governance. At the same time, no controversy should be raised by publishing “information inconsistent with facts”.
About the adviser's statement, Zamir, a former ambassador and secretary, said, “If the health ministry feels the process of imparting necessary information should be facilitated, it should appoint a designated officer for that. The officer should be responsible for providing information in writing, if necessary. This will help avoid controversy.”
Information Commissioner Sadeka Halim said the adviser's statements conflict with the RTI act. She said such statements are not expected from anyone.
About Modasser's recruitment remarks, she said this cannot be a healthy practice for a political party.
Meanwhile, Muradul Islam, Bangla national daily Amader Shomoy's Gopalganj correspondent whose request for information started it all, said he told the adviser they were not getting information on “corruption and irregularities at the Sadar hospital including the latest procurement of medical equipment worth Tk 16 lakh”.
Talking to The Daily Star over the phone yesterday, he said, "I told him [Modasser] we were not getting information about tenders at the civil surgeon's office. He replied the government would investigate corruption, but the journalists won't be given any information in this regard."
Sadeka Halim said it is not mandatory for the administration to give information on a tender especially the number of bidders and amount of money before the bidding ends.
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