Media's uninterrupted access to info a must to fight graft

Uninterrupted access to information for the media is a prerequisite to combat corruption and establish good governance in the country, said journalists, teachers and researchers at a seminar yesterday.

The country's information commission has to play a proactive role in ensuring this, they added.

They said availability of government information under the Right to Information Act (RTI) is inadequate because of a lacklustre response from the government officials.

Dissemination of information under the act will benefit producing quality investigative reports, they added.

Management and Resource Development Initiative (MRDI) with the help of Fojo Media Institute of Linnaeus University, Sweden organised the seminar, “Use of RTI Act in Investigative Journalism” at The Daily Star Centre in the capital marking International Right to Know Day, to be observed today.

The speakers said the RTI act is journalism-friendly and those who rely on traditional source-based reporting have to change their mindset to take its benefit.

They also stressed the need for creating awareness regarding the benefit of law at root level, saying it will be helpful for flourishing rural journalism.

Presenting a keynote paper, Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, president of a faction of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, said the reports at present are mostly based on leaked stories that lack proper research and corroboration.

The RTI act will help provide authentic and latest information, which will aid the journalists in crosschecking information, said Bulbul, also editor-in-chief and chief executive officer of ETV.

Noted Indian investigative journalist Saikat Datta, who also presented a keynote paper, said use of similar law in his country is also insufficient.

Saikat, South Asia editor of Asia Times, said by taking help of the Indian RTI act, he could write stories on some of the biggest events such as a food scam of the Indian government, its surveillance system on public phone calls and the government's demonetisation process.

The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam said the RTI act is one of the most significant instruments of journalism. “But we are at fault…we are not using the law properly.”

Golam Sarwar, president of Editors' Council and editor of Bangla daily Samakal, said reporters interested in investigative journalism have to be provided with sufficient time and support so that they can produce good stories.

Prof Mofizur Rahman, chairperson of the department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University, said investigative reports based on information gathered under the act can be used to treat each party equally.

Hasibur Rahman, executive director of MRDI, said they offer different courses and fellowships for media houses and journalists to sharpen their skills and gather adequate knowledge on investigative journalism.

Prof Golam Rahman, chief information commissioner, said nearly 25,000 officers are posted at different government offices to provide information under the act.

He said people have to be precise and specific while applying for information. After being denied of information under the act, journalists filed as many as 336 complaints in 2015 and 539 in 2016.

He proposed formulation of a new and specific law that will benefit journalists to have quicker access to information.

Journalists JE Mamun of ATN Bangla, Shahnaz Munni of News 24, Tipu Sultan of Prothom Alo, and Zayadul Ahsan Pintu of DBC News, also spoke.

The seminar was moderated by Syed Ishtiaque Reza, director of news and current affairs, Ekattor TV.

Meanwhile, rights body Ain O Salish Kendra in a statement yesterday called on the government to implement the law properly to establish justice in the country, saying “right to information is inseparable to people's freedom of speech, thoughts and conscience”.