International Right to Information Day
September 28, 2021
Information is my right
Does everyone know?
Today is a joyous and important day for the people of the world who believe in information commissions and freedom of information in Bangladesh and 129 countries around the world. Although every human being in the world is a believer in freedom by birth, in the chains of the conventional social system, the freedom of political, social and thought consciousness has been deprived of each other for ages. On the other hand, the far-reaching thoughts, struggles or sacrifices of religious, political, philosophical or eminent personalities have unleashed man or society.
September 28 is a historic day for the right to information. The decision of the International Civil Society in Sofia in 2002 and the resolution of UNESCO in 2015 recognized September 28 as the International Day for the Right to Information. In today's world, access to information has become a fundamental human right in the constitution, national and international treaties, policies or state law.
In the same vein, the Right to Information Act, 2009 in Bangladesh also imposes a free or little access to information on all government, autonomous and statutory bodies and private and privately funded private organizations through a specific process. In addition, this law has been placed above other laws related to the provision of information
This year, the theme of UNESCO International Right to Information Day 2021 is What you know about your right to know, which has been defined in Bengali as 'Information is my right, is everyone aware'. This year's theme can be considered as a call for the achievement of the member states of the United Nations in the implementation of the right to information, the current situation or to determine the future course of action.In the midst of the difficult path to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UNESCO's call on International Right to Information Day is crucial today to innovate new approaches or techniques to deal with the emergence of Covid 19.
Historical context of the right to information
Poets, writers or philosophers have played a leading role in changing the basic structure of society in many cases by meeting the needs of human thinking through their sharp insights. John Milton (Civil Servant for the Commonwealth of England), a rebellious poet and civil servant of English literature on the right to information, spoke of freedom of expression in his Areopagitica memoir (1644) against the censorship of the then authorities.
Andas Caidenius, a Finnish politician and philosopher, also started the movement for information in 1765-1766, mainly through writing. However, the Swedish parliament passed the world's first law on freedom of information, the Ordinance on Freedom of Writing and the Press, in 1766. Later, after the French Revolution in 1789, the public began to have access to government budget information.
In 1948, Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognized the right to seek and receive information, and the idea spread through various international instruments and treaties. Currently, 129 countries have RTI laws in place.
Right to Information Act in Bangladesh
After the independence of Bangladesh, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has upheld the rights of the people of this country in Articles 7, 11 and 39 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. The Right to Information Act 2009 was enacted with the aim of ensuring transparency, accountability and good governance in the society through the establishment of the rights of the people as provided by the Constitution and the free flow of information.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
The more than 1,100 existing laws in Bangladesh reflect what citizens can, cannot or cannot do. These laws govern or control the people. On the other hand, the Right to Information Act empowers the people extensively by providing for the imposition of penalties on the authorities for not providing information or forcing them to do so. As a result, the Right to Information Act has undergone a major overhaul of the existing state system.
Since the formation of the Information Commission, effective steps have been taken to implement the law by formulating necessary rules and regulations. Under this Act, an Information Officer has been appointed in most government, semi-government, autonomous departments and NGO’s. In all departments, districts and upazilas of the country, 47,915 officers have been trained directly and 45,285 officers have been trained online.
Trinamool people and people's representatives have been involved in 504 public awareness meetings in 481 upazilas of the country. Integrated management has been made effective by forming a monitoring, supervision and implementation committee comprising of people's representatives, officials of different levels, teachers, journalists, women and well-wishers under the leadership of Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners and Upazila Nirbahi Officers with the help of the Cabinet Division.
In order to make the law more effective, appropriate instructions have been given at the field level from time to time by exchanging views with secretaries of various ministries, media personalities and senior journalists, women media workers. The right to information has been included in the curriculum of schools, colleges and universities to build the mindset of the young generation in a transparent and well-governed society.
Over the past years, more than 96% of the 1,21,888 applications for information have been provided from the field level, setting a shining example of RTI implementation. During the coronation period, 164 cases have been disposed of through virtual courts that are conducive to public health. The Information Commission has already launched RTI online tracking system for online information retrieval application, appeal application or complaint submission.
In the 12 years since the formation of the Information Commission, it has been difficult to get statistics on the percentage of the population who have become aware of their constitutional right to information, but have been able to apply that knowledge to their own or society's development. The survey was conducted in 2012 and 2019 to assess the implementation of the Right to Information Act by the World Bank and the Foundation for the People.
In both the surveys, it is mentioned that the educated / conscious citizens of the society, officials of different classes and professions have the concept or practice of RTI Act, but RTI awareness among the general peasantry, poor, destitute, deprived people has not been observed. The Law Firm Center for Law and Democracy of Canada provides a system called the Right to Information Rating to verify the effectiveness of the Right to Information Act.
In this rating, Bangladesh ranks 27th out of 129 countries in terms of information freedom and global index. In August, 2021, TIB mentioned that government institutions are ahead of non-government organizations in the practice of disclosing information of government and non-government organizations. The backwardness of the private sector in the implementation of the right to information is a matter of great concern. This is because the private sector now carries out many responsibilities which were previously in the government domain.
In addition to implementing the Right to Information Act in 2009, the government has adopted the Digital Bangladesh program to facilitate grassroots citizen service processes, reduce time, cost and visit rates, help increase transparency, accountability and efficiency of local government bodies, and reduce technical inequalities in all union councils, municipalities. A one-stop service center has been set up at O City Corporation. At the same time e-service has been introduced in the post offices of the country.
A total of 33, 168 websites are being provided to the people directly from the world's largest information window. Radio, television, media are spreading in the country and abroad and through various social media, necessary information is reaching the doorsteps of most people. Even the one who got the shelter got the information of his ownership or construction budget of the house.
The communication system has been modernized in the belief of the government to build a digital Bangladesh. On the one hand, Bangabandhu Satellite has been established to connect the whole world, on the other hand, the people of isolated chars have also been brought under the network through community radio.
Compared to 2009, the country's economic growth in 2021, GDP size, human income, literacy rate, standard of living, education, technology, research, health, business, infrastructure development as well as women's empowerment has been praised in the world. People's self-confidence has increased manifold. Bangladesh is already on the list of middle-income countries from underdeveloped. All this has been made possible by involving the people in the work of the government.
Hon'ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her speeches at different times also mentioned that the main driving force of this development has been the active participation of farmers, workers, blacksmiths, fishermen, weavers, garment workers, teachers, civil society, media and the private sector. In each case, they have seized it, despite obstacles we can scarcely imagine. "
Future to do
While this multi-dimensional development of Bangladesh is glorious, it is constantly facing new challenges. Over the past two years, the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown and the economic downturn have taken place at the same time. All the conventional relations and globalization system are changing in this great day.
Changes are taking place in the structure of society, the traditional way of doing business, the way of conducting production activities, the functioning of office-courts, the provision of education and health services, and even the way people move. Although this change is sudden, in many cases this method may be permanent. By tackling these challenges, the search for new ways to build a healthy society and economy has begun in our country as well as in other parts of the world.
In this changed situation, the Information Commission and all the parties involved in the implementation of the right to information have to be novice in achieving the goal by enriching the backward people. That is the main purpose of the right to information movement; Transparent, accountable administration will be formed, the deprived citizens of the country will benefit.
Genuine homage will be paid to all the social reformers of the world including Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who has led for the realization of human rights including the right to information
UNESCO's call for sustainable development and an information-rich knowledge-based society for all 'Information is my right, everyone needs to know. The Information Commission has adopted a plan to prepare a strategy paper for 2021-2030. In that strategy, now is the time to determine the modalities for acquiring and implementing the right to information for all citizens of the country in the next 10 years for sustainable development.
People's Republic of Bangladesh
President's message
I welcome the initiative to celebrate 'International Right to Information Day, 2021' in Bangladesh as in other countries of the world with the theme "Information is my right, does everyone know" to ensure free flow of information.
Bangladesh President
The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh recognizes freedom of thought, conscience and speech as one of the fundamental rights of citizens. Every human being has a constitutional right to receive and know information. Just as the free flow of information helps to establish civil rights, it also strengthens people's empowerment over society and state institutions. Giving priority to this right of the people, the government established the Information Commission to enact the 'Right to Information Act, 2009' and to ensure proper implementation of the law.
The Right to Information Act is a powerful tool in establishing transparency, accountability and good governance. This law has given the people a legal basis to obtain information. The Information Commission is working tirelessly for the proper implementation of the Right to Information Act. The Right to Information Act can be perfected with the spontaneous participation of people from all walks of life, including the Information Commission, government and non-government organizations, print and electronic media, civil society, public representatives and political leaders.
The impact of the global corona epidemic is disrupting global socio-economic activities, including in Bangladesh. In this critical period, free, accurate and timely disclosure of information will on the one hand raise awareness among the people and on the other hand ensure good governance of the authorities. Besides, the relationship of trust between the people and the state will also be elevated. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman dreamed of establishing a happy and prosperous golden Bengal free from hunger and poverty.
On this auspicious occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Independence and the Year of Mujib, I call upon all to come forward with patience, courage and co-operation to fulfill that dream of Bangabandhu.
I wish success to all the programs taken on the occasion of 'International Right to Information Day, 2021'.
Joy Bangla, Khoda Hafez
May Bangladesh live forever.
Government of the People's
Republic of Bangladesh
Honorable Prime Minister's message
I am happy to know that International Right to Information Day is being celebrated in Bangladesh like other countries of the world. This time the theme of the day is' Information is my right, I think everyone knows that it has been timely.
Bangladesh Prime Minister
The dream of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the greatest Bengali of all time, the father of the nation, was to build a golden Bengal free from hunger, poverty, exploitation and corruption. To ensure the right to information of the people, the Awami League government passed the Right to Information Act, 2009 in the Ninth Parliament and formed an Information Commission to implement it. The people are entitled to receive information from the authorities as a result of this law. This law has paved the way for the empowerment of the people.
In order to expand the free flow of information, we have approved the launch of Bangladesh Television as well as private television channels in the period 1996-2001. So far, 45 private television channels, 28 FM radio stations and 32 community radios have been allowed to broadcast. Bangabandhu Satellite-1 'has been successfully launched.
At present, private TV channels including Bangladesh Television are conducting their broadcasting activities through this satellite. As a result, the system of disclosure and dissemination of information has become cheaper and easier. Information on parliamentary sessions is being disseminated directly to the masses through the introduction of parliamentary television.
Bangladesh National Information Window has been introduced to expand civic amenities. Digital Bangladesh is now a reality. We are working towards the goal of making Bangladesh a developed and prosperous country before 2041. I will build the golden Bangladesh of the dream of the father of the nation with the joint efforts of all, InshaAllah.
The world, including Bangladesh, is now in a multi-dimensional crisis due to the transmission of corona virus. In order to overcome this situation, everyone has to come forward from their own position to fulfill their responsibilities.
I look forward to the overall success of International Right to Information Day 2021.
Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu
May Bangladesh live forever
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