The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said the government wants to present a right to information law to the nation in near future.

Free flow of information acts as a driving-force in democracy and good-governance, he said and added the easier the availability of information in a state, the higher is stage of development.

Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed said this while inaugurating a convention on "Right to information for a democratic and corruption free Bangladesh" organized by Manusher Jonno Foundation, a non- government organization at Hotel Sheraton.

Law and Information Adviser Barrister Mainul Hosein and Former Adviser to the caretaker government Advocate Sultana Kamal also spoke on the occasion.

MJF Chairperson Syed Manzur Elahi chaired the session while MJF Executive Director Shaheen Anam gave the welcome address. Research Initiatives of Bangladesh Chairman Dr. Shamsul Bari presented the keynote paper.

Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed hoped that the ministries of Information and the Law and Justice would take the next steps soon for making this law effective. He said the law commission had previously prepared a working paper on right to information. A draft on right to information law prepared on the basis of this paper after collecting opinion from the civil society was sent to the ministries concerned, he added.

The Chief Adviser said his government is working relentlessly to establish good governance in the country. Free flow of information plays an important role for erecting transparent and accountable administrative structure.

The theme of right to information has been touched in Article 39 of the constitution. But the need for a specific law for ensuring right to information has been felt for a long time, he added.

The Chief Adviser said the right to information law would play a supportive role in providing information relevant for life and livelihood as well ensuring deliverable services and facilities.

Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed said a right to information law has already been made effective in neighbouring India. Nepal has also passed a law on right to information recently, he pointed out and said Bangladesh is also in need of such a law.

He said free flow of information has been ensured through legislation in Sweden, where intensity of corruption is also minimal.

Besides ensuring public welfare, optimum utilization of information reduces corruption in society, polity, economy and state machinery, he added.

He said underdevelopment is directly related to corruption. Generally, the level of development of a country is the lower, if the incidence of corruption is higher, he said.

The Chief Adviser said people could be certain about the time- frame and quality of services, if the service providing organizations both in public and private sectors provide them information.

Law and Information Adviser said the government is ready to give due importance to right to information for establishing good governance in the country.

He said the civil society and the journalists would have to play a vital role for ensuring approval of the right to information law.

The journalists will have to achieve the skill of disseminating information supplementary to public interest, he added.

Sultana Kamal said except classified information, others can be shared with people for enhancing development.

Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim was present.