People can establish rights using RTI act
By application of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2009, people can establish their rights and help ensure good governance, transparency and accountability of the government and non-government service providers in the country.
Speakers made the observation at the launching of a video on how to reap benefits from application of the RTI act produced by Dnet, an NGO, with support from Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF).
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Dnet and the Information Commission organised the event at the commission's office in the capital yesterday.
Chief Information Commissioner Mohammad Faruk said the video showed how ordinary people can be empowered with information.
"There are so many safety net programmes of the government but many people do not even know about them," said Shaheen Anam, executive director of MJF and convener of Information Rights Forum.
She hoped that the simple language used in the video would help people learn about the RTI law and its applicability easily and quickly.
Secretary of the information ministry Martuza Akhmed as a special guest at the event said he would ensure distribution of the manual in all the districts through the Department of Mass Communication. "We would also ask Bangladesh Television and other private channels to air the video," he added.
Another special guest Nazrul Islam, secretary (coordination and reforms) of Cabinet Division, said all government offices, specially education institutes, do not have information officers at present but the posts would be filled within a month.
Ananya Raihan, executive director of Dnet, said the video will be uploaded in different segments on the Information Commission's website. A mobile app for smart phones is being developed by Dnet about the usage of RTI act, he added.
Comments