Ensuring free flow of information can be the best way of establishing accountability and good governance everywhere in the society.
Unhindered flow of information by all government and non-government organisations concerned needs to be ensured for expediting development. So, full-length implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) law is very important for empowering the public in general.
Government officials, academics and professional leaders came up with the observation while addressing a discussion related to the International Day of Right to Information.
Divisional Administration organized the discussion at the office conference hall of Divisional Commissioner here Monday discussing and devising ways and means on how to attain the cherished goal in this regard.
Divisional Commissioner Dr Dewan Humayun Kabir addressed the discussion as chief guest, while additional Commissioner Jasim Uddin Haider in the chair.
Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Shamim Ahmed, Superintendent of Police Abdus Salam, Deputy Director of the Department of Health Dr Habibur Rahman, Deputy Regional Director of Bangladesh Betar Monirul Islam and Additional Director of the Department of Narcotics Control Fazlur Rahman also spoke.
Professor Pradip Kumar Panday from the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Rajshahi University addressed the meeting as focal person highlighting the significance of the International RTI day.
He attributed that RTI is the integral part of the fundamental rights and ensuring the right to information is the precondition to enhance transparency and accountability together with reducing corruption and making good governance sustainable.
Prof Pradip Panday observed that the designated officials of the information-giving government and non-government organisations have a vital role to play.
Successful implementation of the RTI act can be the best way of supplementing the government efforts of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
In his remarks, Commissioner Dr Humayun Kabir said the government is very much confident and working relentlessly for successful implementation of the RTI law. The field level government and non-government officials concerned should be positive to supplement the government effort.
As long as the law is not implemented by the government and non- government organisations, its strength, weaknesses, limitations and appropriateness cannot be ascertained.
“Implementation of RTI Law has become indispensable for the sake of establishing good governance in the society and enhancing transparency and accountability in all tiers of public services,” Humayun Kabir defined.
Proactive disclosure of information regarding all development works at the grassroots can ensure proper utilisation of resources and put a check on corruption, he mentioned.
