2 govt officials punished for failure to give info

The Information Commission in Dhaka yesterday awarded monetary penalty to two government officials in Jaldhaka upazila of Nilphamari for not providing information to two rural women.

Janoki Bala and Bharoti Rani of Shimulbari village of Jaldhaka upazila applied duly in prescribed form to Jubo Unnayan office and women affair's department on April 20 seeking information about training on skill development and the procedure to get maternity allowance.

But no information was provided to them by the two offices within the recommended time limit of 20 days as per relevant rule.

Later they appealed to the district offices of both the departments for getting their required information but they were again deprived.

The two women lodged written complaint to the Information Commission at Agargaon in Dhaka on June 13.

Chief Information Commissioner Dr Md Golam Rahman summoned the two officials to attend his office at 12:00 noon yesterday.

He along with other commissioners Nepal Chandra Sarkar and Prof Khurshida Begum Sayed made a long hearing and found the complaint of the two women true.

The Commission fined Tk 1,000 to Ali R Reza, Jaldhaka upazila jubo unnayan officer, and asked him to pay Tk 1200 to each of the woman as compensation.

Shamim Jahid Talukdar, women affair's officer, was also asked to pay Tk 1,200 to each of the women as compensation.

Both of the officials were also directed to provide the required information to the two women within next five working days.

Contacted over cell phone, Ali R Reza admitted the Information Commission's verdict against them.