Most of the government officials are not still aware of what information they should give to those who seek it and which info is not to be dished out under the official secrecy law, said one of the country's top bureaucrats.
Cabinet Secretary Muhammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said many officials do not know which information is classified. Even they are not aware of what amounts to depriving the people, if the required information is not given.
The Cabinet Secretary, who attended a discussion in the city as the chief guest, said there are 'confidential', 'restricted', 'secret' and 'top secret' categories of information. And many government officials are yet to know fully about the Official Secrecy Act, 1923.
"How many officials know fully about the Official Secrecy Act, 1923, which is less than half a page," he asked. He urged them to read it.
He suggested the officials to provide the info-seekers with information except those which might cause harm to the people and the country.
The right to information is not only for media people but also for all, he said.
"We need some time to develop the culture of disclosure," he mentioned.
His remarks came at the 'Discussion and handover of Information Disclosure Guideline/ Directives' at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Dhaka.
Information Commission, Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) and Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) jointly organised the programme.
Executive Director (ED) of MRDI Hasibur Rahman moderated the event and presented the keynote paper on "Information Disclosure Policy/ Guideline for ministries and departments thereunder".
Other speakers said concerted efforts by the government, the civil society and the non-government organisations (NGOs) are vital to implement the Right to Information Act, 2009.
They also laid emphasis on creating mass awareness among the people about it so that they (people) could get their information from the designated officials.
Principal Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Md Abul Kalam Azad, who attended the programme as the special guest, suggested dissemination of information of different ministries and departments on their respective websites which will notably lessen the hassles of getting information.
ED of MJF Shaheen Anam said the new guidelines will help the designated officials to provide information to the people.
Chief Information Commissioner Mohammad Faruk said the Information Commission (IC) has started producing films and composing songs aiming to create people's awareness about right to information (RTI).
Information Commissioners Nepal Chandra Sarkar, Professor Khurshida Begum Sayeed, Secretary (Coordination and Reform) of the Cabinet Division Md Nazrul Islam and ED of South Asian Institute of Advanced Legal and Human Rights Studies Barrister Manzoor Hasan and high officials of different ministries and departments, among others, were present.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com
