TIB ED accuses govt of removing decisions, info from official webs

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director (ED) Dr Iftekharuzzaman has accused the present government of removing important state decisions and information, published during the interim administration tenure, from the official websites.
He made the accusation at a press conference organised by the Right to Information (RTI) Forum at the TIB office in Dhaka on Sunday. The event was titled "Immediate Formation of the Information Commission and Necessary Amendments to the Right to Information Act 2009".
Iftekharuzzaman said a large number of important decisions and documents had been taken down from the government websites.
"The current government cannot do it. It is unethical, contrary to the Right to Information Act, and against the interests of the state."
He added that the citizens have the right to access information regardless of whether it reflects positively or negatively on the state, urging the authorities to review the matter.
"People have the right to know all information, whether it is correct or incorrect, motivated, in the interest of the state or against it."
Asked for examples, he said the decisions related to the Prime Minister's Office and the Chief Adviser's Office were among those that were no longer available online. "Many of these decisions and pieces of information have been removed and cannot be found now."
The TIB chief also criticised the failure to establish the Information Commission, saying that the body had been rendered ineffective during the Awami League regime, and the interim government had also failed to set a positive example. The Commission had not been formed for around one and a half years despite a legal obligation to do so.
"The interim government had the opportunity to ensure transparency, but it did not do so. Decisions in several important sectors were taken without sufficient openness."
"If the Commission had been functioning, the process of ensuring transparency and access to information could have been strengthened," he added.
Speaking at the event, Badiul Alam Majumdar, Secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SUJON), said the right to information ensures transparency in the government's operations.
"The right to information means the right to know the truth. No one has the authority to deprive the citizens of that right." The political parties must be involved in ensuring accountability, he added.
Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, Executive Director of Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS), said proper information flow could help prevent large-scale financial irregularities. "If information had flowed properly, the massive embezzlement we have seen in Bangladesh could have been reduced."
He added that the culture of changing everything whenever a government changes should be reconsidered.
The forum demanded the immediate formation of the Information Commission with competent and non-partisan individuals, and called for amendments to the Right to Information Act 2009 to strengthen transparency.
Others present at the press conference included Shaheen Anam, Executive Director of Manusher Jonno Foundation and Convener of RTI Forum; Hasibur Rahman, Executive Director of Media Resources Development Initiative (MRDI); and Zakir Hossain, chief executive officer of Nagorik Uddyog.

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