Use RTI act for transparency
Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad yesterday asked all to effectively use the Right to Information (RTI) Act to establish transparency and cut corruption in the society.
"In the countries, especially in Europe, corruption is less because RTI act is implemented there," he told a discussion on “RTI and mass media” arranged by Bhorer Kagoj and Diner Sheshey at their seminar room in the city.
Admitting that many public offices did not designate officers and lack adequate equipment to provide information, he said these shortages will be addressed gradually.
Chief Information Commissioner Muhammad Zamir said they have prepared a by-law specifying the procedure of keeping records and applying for information and the cost to get information.
He called upon the media to publicise the RTI issue.
Information Commissioner Dr Sadeka Halim stressed the need for better coordination among the bodies like the Human Rights Commission and Information Commission.
Shahriar Alam MP said the fear about the public officials has to be removed to implement the act.
AP Bureau Chief Farid Hossain said journalists are yet to think that RTI is beneficial to them; so they are neither using it for their reporting nor contributing to creating mass awareness. "This attitude should go."
Prof Asif Nazrul of Dhaka University said the ministries mostly linked to public services could be equipped on priority basis to provide information.
Prothom Alo Joint Editor Abdul Qayuum and columnists Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury and Syed Abul Maksud also spoke at the discussion moderated by Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutt.
Comments