The Financial Express: Bangladesh: Friday, 7Th
March 2025.
The Information Rights Forum has recommended making the information commission an independent constitutional body to safeguard its autonomy and bolster democracy.
The recommendation was
presented at a press conference titled "Functionality of the Information
Commission and Amendments to the Right to Information Act" at the
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) office in the capital on Thursday.
The forum presented the written proposal for amending the Right to Information (RTI) Act and emphasised the need for faster access to information.
Speaking at the conference, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the information commission has remained non-functional following the 2024 political changeover.
Discussions have been held with the law adviser to make it operational, but no progress has been observed, he said.
"There is visible indifference. It is embarrassing for a country to be without a commission for six months.
"The responsibility falls on the interim government, and it must answer for this. At one stage, party cadres were appointed to lead the commission. This government will surely not do that," Iftekharuzzaman further said.
The forum also suggested several amendments to the RTI Act 2009 to improve the commission's effectiveness.
The proposed amendments presented by Hasibur Rahman, executive director of Media Resources Development Initiative (MRDI), include simplifying the identification of appellate authorities; expanding the act's scope to include private organisations that operate with government licences, contracts, or approvals; and designating union-level offices as information-providing units.
Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, secretary of Citizens for Good Governance (SHUJAN), stressed the importance of bringing political parties under the purview of the RTI Act to ensure transparency and accountability.
Responding to journalists' questions about the Election Commission's reluctance to disclose information, he asserted that all data held by the commission is subject to the RTI Act, and any delay in providing such information violates the law.
Additionally, the forum proposed renaming the commission Information Commission Bangladesh and revising the time frame for providing information.
It suggested information be delivered within 20 calendar days instead of 20 working days, while appeals should be processed within seven days, or 24 hours in urgent cases.
The forum also recommended increasing penalties for obstructing information dissemination and mandating the appointment of the chief information commissioner or commissioners within 45 days of vacancy.
It plans to present the recommendations to the government to ensure the effective implementation of the RTI Act and to make the commission effective without further delay.
Another major proposal was to align the ranks, salaries, and benefits of information commissioners with those of senior government officials, while also establishing clear rules and procedures for their removal.
The Information Rights Forum has recommended making the information commission an independent constitutional body to safeguard its autonomy and bolster democracy.
The forum presented the written proposal for amending the Right to Information (RTI) Act and emphasised the need for faster access to information.
Speaking at the conference, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the information commission has remained non-functional following the 2024 political changeover.
Discussions have been held with the law adviser to make it operational, but no progress has been observed, he said.
"There is visible indifference. It is embarrassing for a country to be without a commission for six months.
"The responsibility falls on the interim government, and it must answer for this. At one stage, party cadres were appointed to lead the commission. This government will surely not do that," Iftekharuzzaman further said.
The forum also suggested several amendments to the RTI Act 2009 to improve the commission's effectiveness.
The proposed amendments presented by Hasibur Rahman, executive director of Media Resources Development Initiative (MRDI), include simplifying the identification of appellate authorities; expanding the act's scope to include private organisations that operate with government licences, contracts, or approvals; and designating union-level offices as information-providing units.
Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, secretary of Citizens for Good Governance (SHUJAN), stressed the importance of bringing political parties under the purview of the RTI Act to ensure transparency and accountability.
Responding to journalists' questions about the Election Commission's reluctance to disclose information, he asserted that all data held by the commission is subject to the RTI Act, and any delay in providing such information violates the law.
Additionally, the forum proposed renaming the commission Information Commission Bangladesh and revising the time frame for providing information.
It suggested information be delivered within 20 calendar days instead of 20 working days, while appeals should be processed within seven days, or 24 hours in urgent cases.
The forum also recommended increasing penalties for obstructing information dissemination and mandating the appointment of the chief information commissioner or commissioners within 45 days of vacancy.
It plans to present the recommendations to the government to ensure the effective implementation of the RTI Act and to make the commission effective without further delay.
Another major proposal was to align the ranks, salaries, and benefits of information commissioners with those of senior government officials, while also establishing clear rules and procedures for their removal.
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