Gazette on Information Commission rules soon
Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said yesterday the government will soon issue a gazette notification containing rules for making the Information Commission effective.
The government has enacted the Right to Information (RTI) Act and constituted the commission to ensure people's access to information, and is now framing a set of rules for its effective functioning, he said.
The minister was talking to journalists following a meeting with a four-member delegation of International Press Institute (IPI) at his office.
The delegation included IPI director David Dadge, press and communications manager Anthony Mills, president of Norwegian Institute of Journalism Trine Ostlyngen and IPI board member and chairperson of the IPI Bangla-desh National Committee Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul.
The three-member Information Commission, formed on July 1 this year, is facing difficulties in enforcing the RTI Act since it is yet to have a permanent office, required manpower and logistics.
Besides, the government has not yet framed rules necessary for implementation of the act.
Shafique said he informed the IPI delegation that the mass media in Bangladesh is enjoying full freedom, and journalists are easily getting information from the government, semi-government and statutory organisations.
As these organisations are bound to provide information as per provisions of the RTI Act, journalists can make authentic reports, he said.
The law minister said the government will take proper action if any journalist is tortured while performing professional duties.
Replying to a question on the latest position of cases concerning killing of journalists including Manik Saha and Goutam Das, Shafique said police are investigating the cases, and trials will be held in accordance with law.
The minister regretted incidents of long delay in labour court in disposing of cases filed by journalists seeking their dues following resignation or termination of jobs.
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