Right to info for ensuring transparency, accountability stressed

RAJSHAHI, Mar 29: Speakers at an advocacy meeting on right to information Sunday underscored the need for taking immediate steps to ensure right to information for all, especially the journalists, reports BSS.
Side by side with the newsmen, the speakers said, the people should also be given access to information to help with the development activities.
They said necessary steps should be taken to make the development-related information accessible to all, particularly the newsmen.
The speakers said many people could not take part in the nation-building activities due to lack of updated information.
Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) arranged the discussion with the district and upazila level government officials at Chilies Party Zone here.
Discussants said access to information is very essential to face the challenges of the 21st century and the people of different professions, especially health, agriculture, trade, business and industry should be given access to information.
Chaired by local unit CGG President Prof Fazlul Haque, the function was addressed, among others, by Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Rajshahi University Dr AFM Zaheed Hossain, CGG Vice-president Mustafizur Rahman Khan Alam, District Livestock Officer Khairul Anam, District Social Service Officer Hamida Begum, Superintending Engineer of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority Shafiqul Alam, District Family Planning Officer Parimal Chandra and BSCIC Officer Zillur Rahman. CGG General Secretary Akbarul Hasan Millat moderated the session.
Discussants said the freedom of expression has widely been accepted as one of the fundamental rights in democracy and said right to adequate and correct information should be ensured to make it meaningful.
Taking part in the discussion, several journalists said that development of journalism is dependent on the availability of related information from the authorities concerned.