Strengthen Information Commission

A parliamentary body yesterday asked the government to recruit competent and honest persons in the Information Commission in order to protect the credibility of its information.
Expressing dissatisfaction over its “slow and limited progress” in providing information, the parliamentary standing committee on the information ministry asked the commission to expedite its activities and ensure that people from every sector get right information.
After a meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, Obaidul Quader, chief of the parliamentary body, told The Daily Star that the commission is not working as expected.
On the recruitment, Obaidul, also a ruling Awami League MP, said transparency and accountability of the commission will be questioned if honest and competent persons are not appointed.
“We want grassroots people, even those living in remote areas, have access to the commission and their required information,” he said.
The commission has not been set up to provide information to only rich people living in the city areas, he continued.
The parliamentary committee was informed in the meeting that about 12 individuals and organisations submitted applications to the commission seeking information on different issues.
Citing examples of India and South Africa, Obaidul said information is being used as a tool in those countries to fight against corruption and that he hopes Bangladesh will reach that level very soon.
Chief Information Commissioner Muhammad Zamir, two information commissioners Mohammad Abu Taher and Prof Sadeka Halim; The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam; Country Director of Article 19, Bangladesh, Tahmina Rahman; Country Director of Save the Children (Sweden-Denmark) Shamsul Alam and Assistant Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism, Dhaka University, SM Shamim Reza attended the meeting on special invitation.