Rapid implementation of Right to Infor Act to ensure corruption free governance accountability

The New Nation; Bangladesh; October 2, 2010;

Participants to observe International Day for Right to Information 2010 on Tuesday called to implement 'Right to information Act' to ensure corruption free good governance and sustainable democratic system with accountability and transparency.

The programmes were organized separately on this occasion by Conscious Citizen Committee of Transparency International Bangladesh, Nagorik Uddyog (Citizen Initiative) and Tattho Adhikar Andalon (Campaign on Citizen's Right to Information) and BRAC, at different parts of the city.

The programmes include two-day 'information fair' and human chain of TIB at Aswanikumar Hall, rally by ND and BRAC on city roads.

Participants and speakers of the programmes stressed on the precondition of Right to Information (RTI) Act to ensure people's right to know and good governance as right to information goes hand in hand with freedom of expression in a democratic dispensation.

They added that economic development, establishment of rule of law and sustainable democracy in order to fight corruption, institutionalize democracy and establish good governance in the country, cannot be achieved unless transparency and accountability would be ensured in all spheres by ensuring free flow of information.

Terming the right to know the mother of all rights and oxygen for democracy the speakers of the programme stressed on speeding its implementation as an effective tool.

The government machinery yet not prepared to designate an officer for giving the responsibility of providing information and deliver services under the RTI even after the law came into force on July 1 last year, the participants said.

They called for rapid steps and setups to implement 'Right to information Act.

However Participants on review of implementations of Right to Information act said the sections 7,8,27 and 32 have crippled the RTI act and without ratifications of those sections it would never be succeeded to achieve its goals of ensuring good governance through transparency and accountability in the society.