Right to Know Day today

The Daily Star; BANGLA DESH: Tuesday, September 28, 2010;

The Right To Information (RTI) Forum has called upon the government to make public all the signed national and international agreements, which are related to public interests.

It also urged the Information Commission to immediately publish the list of government and non-government officials at every level who are responsible for disclosing information.

The Forum formed a human chain in front of the National Press Club yesterday morning on the eve of the International Right to Know Day and made the demands.

Around the world, September 28 is celebrated as the International Right to Know Day to raise awareness about the right to information.

Mentioning that organisations have the tendency to conceal information, Convener of RTI Forum Shaheen Anam said we should get rid of such culture and let people know the information.

As a result, the free flow of information would be ensured and people will get necessary information, she added.

Many organisations are yet to appoint or reveal the name of officer responsible for divulging information at the upazila level. The Forum asked to take necessary steps to appoint officials and reveal their names immediately.

According to Right To Information (RTI) Act-2009, both government and non-government institutions are obliged to disclose and provide information of their activities and services.

The government should take initiatives to make the organisations give information, the Forum said.

The annual report of Information Commission should be published and discussed in the parliament, it demanded.

The union parishad should be involved to implement RTI Act at the grassroots level, RTI Forum observed.

Various organisations have chalked out elaborative programmes including human chain, procession, cartoon exhibition, seminar, view-exchange meeting, and information fair to observe the International Right to Know Day today.