Call to scrap Official Secrets Act

Speakers at a discussion yesterday called on the caretaker government to bring major changes to the draft of the Right to Information Act and to scrap the Official Secrets Act 1923 that contradicts the RTI Act.
They also urged the government to induct representatives from the political parties, civil society and the media into the committee that will finalise the draft.
Shushashoner Janney Pracharavijan (Supro) or Campaign for Good Governance organised the discussion at the National Press Club, with its Chairman Abdul Awal in the chair.
Welcoming the government initiative to formulate the RTI Act, the speakers said there are some loopholes in the draft, which need to be removed.
They urged the government to provide information free of charge and to shorten the list that restricts disclosure of information.
They also called for scraping the sub-section (jha) of Section 8 of the draft act.
Human rights activist Hameeda Hossain said the government should scrap Official Secrets Act that contradicts the RTI Act.
She also urged the government to ensure maximum disclosure of information.
Workers Party leader Haider Akbar Khan Rono called on the government to simplify the draft so that general people can easily understand it.
Former Awami League lawmaker Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan, former BNP lawmaker Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, General Secretary of CFSD Mahfuz Ullah, Workers Party leader Saiful Haq, Deputy Editor of the daily Somokal Mozammel Haq and Barrister Tania Amir also spoke.