Bangladesh ahead of US in many cases of transparency: Hasan
Many common people don't know about the Right to Information Act. Even, many journalists don't know about the act well, says information minister
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud yesterday said Bangladesh is ahead of the United States in many cases of transparency and accountability.
"Every candidate has to submit tax or income tax files during any election whether it is local government, mayoral or national parliament elections in Bangladesh. But, Donald Trump who was the president of the USA didn't complete his taxes or income tax file till today.
"So, we are ahead of the USA in many cases of transparency. And everyone has to submit the file in our country," he said.
The minister was addressing the 'NIMC Media Award' organised by National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMC) in the capital.
Md Mahmudul Hossain Khan, secretary of Coordination and Reform Wing at the Cabinet Division addressed the function as special guest with NIMC director general Shahin Islam in the chair.
Joint Secretary of the Cabinet Division Ayesha Akther, Attache of the European Union to Bangladesh Fani Farmaki, Platform for Dialogue Project Team leader Arsen Stepanyan, and British Council Bangladesh Country director Tom Miscioscia, among others, addressed as guests of honour.
Hasan said the project has been taken by the Cabinet Division as the government put emphasis on good governance. They are informing people how and what benefits they can get in government offices as the countrymen don't know about many issues, he added.
He said many common people don't know about the Right to Information Act. Even, many journalists don't know about the act well, he added.
The Information Commission has been formed under the law, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
About 1.10 lakh applications have been solved till now after forming the Information Commission, he continued.
He said there is no need to steal any pages of files from any office. Many have applied through the Information Commission after not getting information from any government or private office and the commission has settled it. There are many such precedents, he added.
The minister said every state in the globe has some secrets which are not exposable whether it is the USA, European Union, the UK or any other country. But there is so much misconception in the country (Bangladesh) that everything has to be 'public', which is not right, he added.
The government, he said, has ensured transparency and accountability. It was a regular event of snatching or fighting in the pages of newspaper before 12 to 14 years ago when a tender was placed somewhere, he added.
But, e-tendering has ensured transparency, said Hasan.
He said paper files are also required along with the e-files for preservation.
Ten journalists were awarded in the function. Hasan handed over crests and certificates to the recipients.