Shamsul Bari and Ruhi Naz

Dr Shamsul Bari and Ruhi Naz are chairman and assistant director (RTI), respectively, of Research Initiatives, Bangladesh (RIB).

NGOs can help citizens learn to use the RTI Act

Citizens must first understand the law's myriad possibilities to use it effectively

2m ago

Success stories can improve our woefully low awareness of RTI

RTI Act is one of our most powerful instruments to hold the government accountable.

1y ago

The State of RTI in South Asia: The Pakistan Case

Over the last two decades, most of South Asia has adopted right to information (RTI) laws, also known as freedom of information (FOI) or access to information (A2I) laws.

2y ago

RTI in Bangladesh: Narrowing the perception gap between citizens and public authorities

The Bangladesh Right to Information (RTI) Act 2009 is a unique piece of legislation. Most laws are largely founded on the concept of government responsibility to regulate citizen behaviour, but the RTI law establishes government accountability to its citizens.

3y ago

Right to Information: What can we learn from Sri Lanka's experience?

Sri Lanka was the last country in South Asia to adopt the Right to Information Act (RTI) in 2017. For many of us who were involved in discussions with our Sri Lankan counterparts before adoption of the law, it is gratifying to note the progress it has made in these two years. There is much that we can learn from their experience and use in Bangladesh.

5y ago

Making public exams transparent

Competitive examinations are a long-standing and important fact of life for our youth entering public service. But few know that the Right to Information (RTI) Act of 2009 can play an effective role to ensure that these exams are transparent and fair.

6y ago

Learning from the US's experience

There are obvious and big differences between the socio-economic and political conditions of Bangladesh and the US and the extent of their Right to Information (RTI) experiences.

7y ago

RTI Act 2009: A powerful tool against poverty

Yet the RTI Act is hardly known for being put to use in significant numbers. It has so far worked mainly with the marginalised and disadvantaged communities because of the help of NGOs and activists. The educated and the middle classes are yet to be fired by the powerful reach of the law.

8y ago
July 15, 2024
July 15, 2024

NGOs can help citizens learn to use the RTI Act

Citizens must first understand the law's myriad possibilities to use it effectively

November 15, 2022
November 15, 2022

Success stories can improve our woefully low awareness of RTI

RTI Act is one of our most powerful instruments to hold the government accountable.

July 14, 2022
July 14, 2022

The State of RTI in South Asia: The Pakistan Case

Over the last two decades, most of South Asia has adopted right to information (RTI) laws, also known as freedom of information (FOI) or access to information (A2I) laws.

May 12, 2021
May 12, 2021

RTI in Bangladesh: Narrowing the perception gap between citizens and public authorities

The Bangladesh Right to Information (RTI) Act 2009 is a unique piece of legislation. Most laws are largely founded on the concept of government responsibility to regulate citizen behaviour, but the RTI law establishes government accountability to its citizens.

April 14, 2019
April 14, 2019

Right to Information: What can we learn from Sri Lanka's experience?

Sri Lanka was the last country in South Asia to adopt the Right to Information Act (RTI) in 2017. For many of us who were involved in discussions with our Sri Lankan counterparts before adoption of the law, it is gratifying to note the progress it has made in these two years. There is much that we can learn from their experience and use in Bangladesh.

January 15, 2018
January 15, 2018

Making public exams transparent

Competitive examinations are a long-standing and important fact of life for our youth entering public service. But few know that the Right to Information (RTI) Act of 2009 can play an effective role to ensure that these exams are transparent and fair.

June 15, 2017
June 15, 2017

Learning from the US's experience

There are obvious and big differences between the socio-economic and political conditions of Bangladesh and the US and the extent of their Right to Information (RTI) experiences.

June 15, 2016
June 15, 2016

RTI Act 2009: A powerful tool against poverty

Yet the RTI Act is hardly known for being put to use in significant numbers. It has so far worked mainly with the marginalised and disadvantaged communities because of the help of NGOs and activists. The educated and the middle classes are yet to be fired by the powerful reach of the law.

February 15, 2016
February 15, 2016

Welcoming the new CIC

Unfortunately, citizens are yet to rise to the occasion and play a meaningful role to take the law forward. Demands for information are yet to pour into government offices in large numbers to test the system.

January 15, 2016
January 15, 2016

Right to Information - A catalyst for change

The Bangladesh RTI Act is similarly geared towards changing the culture of secretive governance inherited from colonial times. The goal is to replace it with more open, responsive, law-based and citizen-friendly rule.