Right to Information Act (RTI)
Why are state officials wary of RTI requests?
Stronger commitment to transparency is vital for the success of RTI Act
There is so much more to the RTI Act
Clearly, most citizens are unaware of the tremendous bounties the RTI Act has to offer
Does RTI have a future in Bangladesh?
Can public officials ever become transparent in their work and feel accountable to citizens?
Eight years old - How is the Right to Information Act faring?
"The freedom of a nation cannot be upheld by laws alone, but also by the light of the nation and knowledge of their use." These words by Anders Chydenius, a Swedish enlightenment thinker and politician of the eighteenth century, had set the ball rolling for the adoption of world's first freedom of information law in Sweden and Finland in 1766. Since then around 115 countries/territories have enacted similar transparency laws.
Right to Information - Is it catching on in Bangladesh?
NGO experience shows that many RTI applications from marginalised communities do not get recorded as those who obtain benefits by simply using the law do not care about receiving a formal response. Officials concerned also do not wish to record applications and may even avoid reporting them to concerned offices, as they often resort to irregular practices to dispose them off.
Changing Contours of RTI, Part II
It would be unfair to compare the Bangladesh situation with the Indian experience (refer to Part I of this column published yesterday).
Is RTI bringing any real change?
During the International Right to Information Week celebrations recently, a common question in people's mind was: Is the Right to Information Act 2009 (RTI) going in the right direction?
RIGHT TO INFORMATION DAY 2015 / Challenging irregularities in the Education Sector
A common reaction of most people about the RTI Act is a lack of trust in its efficacy. It is this general lack of faith in the willingness of public officials to break away from the age-old culture of official secrecy...
RIGHT TO INFORMATION / The people's law
What is encouraging to note is that this time the government has come forward to break the culture of secrecy. That's why the RTI law has a provision of pro-active disclosure.
Why are state officials wary of RTI requests?
Stronger commitment to transparency is vital for the success of RTI Act
There is so much more to the RTI Act
Clearly, most citizens are unaware of the tremendous bounties the RTI Act has to offer
Does RTI have a future in Bangladesh?
Can public officials ever become transparent in their work and feel accountable to citizens?
Eight years old - How is the Right to Information Act faring?
"The freedom of a nation cannot be upheld by laws alone, but also by the light of the nation and knowledge of their use." These words by Anders Chydenius, a Swedish enlightenment thinker and politician of the eighteenth century, had set the ball rolling for the adoption of world's first freedom of information law in Sweden and Finland in 1766. Since then around 115 countries/territories have enacted similar transparency laws.
Right to Information - Is it catching on in Bangladesh?
NGO experience shows that many RTI applications from marginalised communities do not get recorded as those who obtain benefits by simply using the law do not care about receiving a formal response. Officials concerned also do not wish to record applications and may even avoid reporting them to concerned offices, as they often resort to irregular practices to dispose them off.
Changing Contours of RTI, Part II
It would be unfair to compare the Bangladesh situation with the Indian experience (refer to Part I of this column published yesterday).
Is RTI bringing any real change?
During the International Right to Information Week celebrations recently, a common question in people's mind was: Is the Right to Information Act 2009 (RTI) going in the right direction?
Challenging irregularities in the Education Sector
A common reaction of most people about the RTI Act is a lack of trust in its efficacy. It is this general lack of faith in the willingness of public officials to break away from the age-old culture of official secrecy...
The people's law
What is encouraging to note is that this time the government has come forward to break the culture of secrecy. That's why the RTI law has a provision of pro-active disclosure.
The meaning of “information” under the RTI law (PART 1)
In last month's column, we said that a key reason for the tardy progress of the Right to Information Act (RTI) in the country is general disbelief that the age-old practice of official secrecy in the work of public authorities will change just because there is a new law that seeks to end it.