RTI bill passed

The House yesterday passed the much-awaited bill to continue people's right to information, incorporating a parliamentary body's recommendation to limit a few organisations' absolute authority to refuse to divulge information.

As per the provisions of the bill, all organisations registered under the law of the land will be bound to provide citizens with information on matters of public interests.

Organisations that enjoy legal coverage to keep some information undisclosed will have to take permission of the information commission to deny information sought, the parliamentary standing committee on information ministry recommended in its scrutiny report on the bill.

The bill had proposed continuing the provision for blanket immunity to such organisations regarding disclosure of information on some specific matters.

As per a provision of the bill, organisations are not bound to provide information that might threaten the country's security, integrity and sovereignty, confidential information received from any foreign government, advanced information on the changes in tax, VAT and budget, matters under trial and investigation and summary prepared for cabinet meetings etc.

Also incorporated in the bill was another recommendation on constituting the information commission within 90 days of the act's taking effect.

All but three provisions of the bill were given retrospective effect from October 20, 2008; the three provisions, which deal with seeking information through email and disposal of objections and appeals filed by people seeking remedy after being denied information, will take effect from next July.

In response to long-standing demand, the last caretaker government promulgated the Right to Information Ordinance last year, but it ceased to have effect as it was not ratified within the specified timeframe.

Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad, who placed the bill on February 25, yesterday proposed passage of the bill.

THREE MORE BILLS PLACED
Three bills titled Law and Order Disruption Offence (Speedy Trial) (Amendment) Act 2009, Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project (Land Requisition) Act 2009, and Public Procurement (Amendment) Act 2009 were placed in parliament yesterday.

Home Minister Sahara Khatun placed the speedy trial bill, proposing extension of the act's effectiveness up to April 6, 2010. She said 159 cases were under investigation and 1,246 cases were under trial under the act as of March 3.

The BNP government enacted the law in 2002 for two years and later its effectiveness was extended for six years.

The Fakhruddin-led caretaker government last year extended its effectiveness for two years through an ordinance, which ceased to have effect for not being ratified in parliament within the specified timeframe.

Planning Minister AK Khandker placed the public procurement (amendment) bill and Land Minister Rezaul Karim Hira placed the land requisition bill for the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project.

The bills were sent to the parliamentary standing committees concerned for scrutiny.

Besides, the parliamentary standing on commerce ministry yesterday placed in parliament its report on the scrutiny of the consumers' rights protection bill with some recommendations. The committee proposed including a provision for holding summary trial of offences.

Committee chief Abdul Jalil, who placed the report, said consumers have been cheated and harassed for a long time as there was no law to protect their rights.

Rahmat Ali, chief of the parliamentary standing committee on the LGRD and cooperatives ministry, placed a report on its scrutiny of the Gram Sarkar (Repeal) bill and recommended its passage.