Free-flow of info needed for development, seminar told
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Speakers at a views exchange meeting Monday stressed the need for ensuring free flow of information and good governance for taking the country towards development and prosperity, reports BSS.
They expressed the hope that the next elected government would ensure free flow of information to help institutionalising democracy in the country.
The speakers were addressing the views exchange meeting on 'Rights to Information: Commitment of Political Parties in Election Manifesto and Its Implementation' in the CIRDAP auditorium in the city.
The Peoples Empowerment Trust and the Manusher Jonnyo Foundation jointly organised the meeting.
Former member of Parliament Muhammad Faruq Khan presented a keynote paper while executive director of the Manusher Jonnyo Shaheen Anam presided over the function.
Member of BNP Standing Committee Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, presidium member of Jatiya Party GM Kader, eminent journalist and columnist Syed Abul Maksud and Woman Affairs Secretary of Awami League Dipu Moni, among others, addressed the meeting while Dhaka University (DU) law department teacher Asif Nazrul conducted it.
Putting emphasis on ensuring the people's right to information, Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman said information should not be suppressed for the greater national interest.
In his keynote presentation, Faruq Khan said the culture of hiding information had been evolved in this country a long time before.
He said the mentality of suppressing facts began from family and later transmitted to political leadership.
Faruq Khan said 55 countries across the world have already enacted right to information laws.
Syed Abul Maksud said, "We want a government that would sincerely protect the interest of the nation through ensuring free flow of information".
They expressed the hope that the next elected government would ensure free flow of information to help institutionalising democracy in the country.
The speakers were addressing the views exchange meeting on 'Rights to Information: Commitment of Political Parties in Election Manifesto and Its Implementation' in the CIRDAP auditorium in the city.
The Peoples Empowerment Trust and the Manusher Jonnyo Foundation jointly organised the meeting.
Former member of Parliament Muhammad Faruq Khan presented a keynote paper while executive director of the Manusher Jonnyo Shaheen Anam presided over the function.
Member of BNP Standing Committee Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, presidium member of Jatiya Party GM Kader, eminent journalist and columnist Syed Abul Maksud and Woman Affairs Secretary of Awami League Dipu Moni, among others, addressed the meeting while Dhaka University (DU) law department teacher Asif Nazrul conducted it.
Putting emphasis on ensuring the people's right to information, Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman said information should not be suppressed for the greater national interest.
In his keynote presentation, Faruq Khan said the culture of hiding information had been evolved in this country a long time before.
He said the mentality of suppressing facts began from family and later transmitted to political leadership.
Faruq Khan said 55 countries across the world have already enacted right to information laws.
Syed Abul Maksud said, "We want a government that would sincerely protect the interest of the nation through ensuring free flow of information".