The hope of a new dawn for RTI and democracy.

The Daily Star: Dhaka: Saturday, August 16, 2025.

Two recent developments have alleviated, at least temporarily, the creeping despondency among right to information (RTI) enthusiasts in Bangladesh, which was triggered by the September 2024 departure of all three information commissioners, following the July uprising and the assumption of power by the interim government. The departure of the commissioners made the Information Commission of Bangladesh virtually dysfunctional.

The first development was the release of draft amendment to the RTI Act, 2009 by the information ministry last month, seeking inputs from citizens for further improvement to the law. The draft was based on the recommendations of Public Administration Reform Commission, one of several such commissions set up by the interim government to strengthen and safeguard democracy. It raised hope that the government was at last focusing on the beleaguered RTI Act, which is considered to be the most effective instrument for citizens to monitor the work of government bodies.

The second development was the declaration on August 5, 2025 by the chief adviser of the interim government on the much-awaited July Charter that aims to concretise the aspirations of July uprising. Added to it is the announcement, on the same day, of the equally anticipated general election, to be held by February 2026 to elect a new government. Together, they raised hope that the momentous developments which followed the violent overthrow of the previous regime would lead to a new dawn of democracy in Bangladesh.