The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The proposed Information Rights Act should be amended extensively so that it may really benefit the masses, said the speakers at a roundtable yesterday.

Sushaner Jonno Nagorik (SUJAN) organised the roundtable titled "Proposed Information Rights Act and Thoughts of Citizens" in the National Press Club.

Prof Muzaffar Ahmed said, In many countries the information disclosing law are enacted under different titles. In India the title of the law is Freedom to Information Act. The urban people especially the bureaucrats who have are retired use the law mostly.

About the proposed Information Rights Act he said the structure of the commission is not mentioned in the draft. He urged the government to make it specific and to place the draft to people through media to elicit their opinion.

Suranjit Sen Gupta, Presidium Member of Bangladesh Awami League, said the Government should discuss with politicians, media and other responsible sections about the philosophy under the law before drafting it. The policymaker should draw the attention of both the beneficiary and the sufferers.

Dr Badiul Alam said if the draft was turned into an act, it might be a barrier to the flow of information. The draft is not acceptable to all because it has some basic problems. The disclosing of annual budget that is allocated for the Armed Force should come under this act.

Barrister Amirul Islam said the prerequisite of drafting information law is to form an information commission. The government should show the draft in the web site for ensuring accountability and transparency.

Barrister Harun-Ar-Rashid, said the people have the right to receive information as the government is run by their taxes. But the draft does not preserve the right completely.

Shamol Dutta, editor of Bhorer Kagaj, said the draft has been completed in the light of the bureaucratic viewpoint not keeping in mind the masses.

Sayed Abul Maksud, Md Jahangir Alam, Asis Shaikat, Prof Kamal Ataur Rahman, among others, were present.