Journalist leaders, experts reject draft of right to info ordinance
Monday, 18 August 2008
Journalist leaders and experts at a discussion Sunday rejected outright the draft of right to information ordinance, saying that there are many inconsistencies and barriers in it, reports BSS.
There will be no benefits from the ordinance if the inconsistencies and barriers remain, they said and vowed to resist the ordinance at any cost.
They also called on the government to enact the law in light with the draft provided jointly by Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), Jatiya Press Club (JPC) and South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA).
The Media Commission, Bangladesh arranged the discussion on 'Reviewing the Draft of Right to Information Ordinance' at Jatiya Press Club in the city Sunday with the commission Chairman Dr Mizanur Rahman Sheley in the chair.
The discussion was addressed, among others, by Amar Desh acting Editor Ataus Samad, SAFMA, Bangladesh Chapter President and News Today Editor Reazuddin Ahmed, former adviser and The Independent Editor Mahbubul Alam, BSS Chief Editor Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, Prof Shakhawat Ali Khan, SAFMA General Secretary Zahiduzzaman Faruk, BFUJ presidents Mozammel Huq and Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, general secretaries Ruhul Amin Gazi and Abdul Jalil Bhuiyan, Media Commission, Bangladesh Secretary General and JPC President Shaukat Mahmood, JPC General Secretary Kamal Uddin Shobuj, New Age Editor Nurul Kabir, DUJ President Abdus Shahid, Bangladesh Women Journalists' Forum President Rasheda Amin, Nari Sangbadik Kendro President Nasimun Ara Haque, Bangladesh Public Relations Officers Association President Mirza Tariqul Quader, Dr Asif Nazrul of DU Law Department, Advocate Elina Khan of Manobadhikar Bastobayan Sangstha, Diplomatic Correspondents Association President Masud Karim and Kazi Abdul Hannan of Daily Jugantor.
Rejecting the ordinance, Ataus Samad urged the government not to turn the ordinance, approved by the Council of Advisers recently, into act.
The act is not for only journalists, it is also for general people, he said, adding, it should be enacted considering the rights of all.
Reazuddin Ahmed said the ordinance is like an improved version of the Official Secrecy Act. "It is not acceptable in any way," he added.
He called upon the government to formulate the law in line with the draft provided jointly by BFUJ, JPC and SAFMA.
Terming the final draft of right to information ordinance as very disappointing, Mahbubul Alam said, "We did not imagine that such an ordinance would be approved."
He said agreement with foreign countries or other organisations should be disclosed in the public interest. "There is no scope for playing hide and seek with it," he added.
Mahbubul Alam said, "We don't want any act which would violate our rights."
Prof Shakhawat Ali Khan said the right to information act is very essential for good governance.
Referring to resistance to the ordinance, he said information should be dug out as there is no scope for journalists to remain silent.
He stressed the need for a representative of the united journalist community in the media commission.
Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury called for taking initiatives to enact a good law.
Terming the ordinance anti-democratic, Zahiduzzaman Faruk said, "The ordinance should be annulled if we want to develop politically and socially."
Shaukat Mahmood said the ordinance is contrary to the basic rights of people and there are many inconsistencies and obstacles in it.
He called for bringing political parties under the right to information act.
Kamal Uddin Shobuj said the act that will not be for people should not exist.
Terming the ordinance very bad, Dr Asif Nazrul demanded its amendments.
There will be no benefits from the ordinance if the inconsistencies and barriers remain, they said and vowed to resist the ordinance at any cost.
They also called on the government to enact the law in light with the draft provided jointly by Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), Jatiya Press Club (JPC) and South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA).
The Media Commission, Bangladesh arranged the discussion on 'Reviewing the Draft of Right to Information Ordinance' at Jatiya Press Club in the city Sunday with the commission Chairman Dr Mizanur Rahman Sheley in the chair.
The discussion was addressed, among others, by Amar Desh acting Editor Ataus Samad, SAFMA, Bangladesh Chapter President and News Today Editor Reazuddin Ahmed, former adviser and The Independent Editor Mahbubul Alam, BSS Chief Editor Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, Prof Shakhawat Ali Khan, SAFMA General Secretary Zahiduzzaman Faruk, BFUJ presidents Mozammel Huq and Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, general secretaries Ruhul Amin Gazi and Abdul Jalil Bhuiyan, Media Commission, Bangladesh Secretary General and JPC President Shaukat Mahmood, JPC General Secretary Kamal Uddin Shobuj, New Age Editor Nurul Kabir, DUJ President Abdus Shahid, Bangladesh Women Journalists' Forum President Rasheda Amin, Nari Sangbadik Kendro President Nasimun Ara Haque, Bangladesh Public Relations Officers Association President Mirza Tariqul Quader, Dr Asif Nazrul of DU Law Department, Advocate Elina Khan of Manobadhikar Bastobayan Sangstha, Diplomatic Correspondents Association President Masud Karim and Kazi Abdul Hannan of Daily Jugantor.
Rejecting the ordinance, Ataus Samad urged the government not to turn the ordinance, approved by the Council of Advisers recently, into act.
The act is not for only journalists, it is also for general people, he said, adding, it should be enacted considering the rights of all.
Reazuddin Ahmed said the ordinance is like an improved version of the Official Secrecy Act. "It is not acceptable in any way," he added.
He called upon the government to formulate the law in line with the draft provided jointly by BFUJ, JPC and SAFMA.
Terming the final draft of right to information ordinance as very disappointing, Mahbubul Alam said, "We did not imagine that such an ordinance would be approved."
He said agreement with foreign countries or other organisations should be disclosed in the public interest. "There is no scope for playing hide and seek with it," he added.
Mahbubul Alam said, "We don't want any act which would violate our rights."
Prof Shakhawat Ali Khan said the right to information act is very essential for good governance.
Referring to resistance to the ordinance, he said information should be dug out as there is no scope for journalists to remain silent.
He stressed the need for a representative of the united journalist community in the media commission.
Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury called for taking initiatives to enact a good law.
Terming the ordinance anti-democratic, Zahiduzzaman Faruk said, "The ordinance should be annulled if we want to develop politically and socially."
Shaukat Mahmood said the ordinance is contrary to the basic rights of people and there are many inconsistencies and obstacles in it.
He called for bringing political parties under the right to information act.
Kamal Uddin Shobuj said the act that will not be for people should not exist.
Terming the ordinance very bad, Dr Asif Nazrul demanded its amendments.