The New Nation; Rajshahi; Bangladesh; September 30, 2010;
Speakers at a post-rally discussion in Rajshahi on Tuesday unequivocally called for successful implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act for institutionalisation of democracy in society. They viewed that full-length implementation of the RTI Act could be an effective tool for ensuring free flow of information and right to information of the mass people, who play the vital role in the nation-building process. In this context, they expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the present government for enacting the law and urged the authorities concerned to take effective step for its wide-ranging implementation. Conscious Citizens Committee (CCC), an inspired social organisation of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), organized the discussion in observance of the International Day of Right to Information. Addressing as the focal person, president of Rajshahi Union of Journalists Akbarul Hassan Millat portrayed the salient features of successful implementation of RTI that could be an effective means of making the nation free from the curse of corruption and violation of human rights.
He said the local government representatives have a vital role to play for raising awareness among the people in general about the RTI and to demand information and assert their rights to information.
Similarly, the local level administration should work for developing bureaucratic culture supportive of an information-open administration and governance with necessary intentional adjustment.
Besides, like the judiciary, he said, a free media, as a strong pillar of democracy, can also hold the government and other institutions accountable in general as well as from the perspective of RTI.
"We have no way but to bring the people under the updated information to attain economic emancipation and make the nation free from the vicious cycle of poverty," said journalist Hassan Millat adding that all should have to play a responsible role to achieve the cherished goal.
He illustrated that the law has covered most of the elements of good governance including transparency, accountability, participation, effectiveness and democratic process improvement.
With CCC Convener Prof Abdus Salam in the chair, the discussion was also addressed, among others, by CCC Members Munira Rahman Mithi, Kolpna Roy Bhowmik and Ashfaqul Ashekeen. Marking the day, earlier, a rally of around 120 males and females paraded some of the city streets before being converged on the meeting venue.
.JPG)
.JPG)
