Chief Information Commissioner Dr Abdul Malek emphasised on Sunday that all organisations have a legal obligation to disclose essential information to the public.
Speaking at a day-long training workshop for journalists on the "Right to Information Act, 2009" at the Agargaon Information Commission in Dhaka, Dr Malek stated, "By enacting this law, the government has ensured the peoples right to access information."
Dr Malek highlighted that under the Act, organisations must regularly update and publish relevant information on their websites. Additionally, information should be proactively shared through notice boards, billboards, and annual reports.
He remarked, "As we transition from Digital Bangladesh to Smart Bangladesh, there should be no barriers preventing people from accessing information."
Dr Malek added, "If the public requests information from any organisation, the administration is legally obliged to provide it."
Since the implementation of the Right to Information Act, 156,665 applications have been filed requesting information from various organisations across the country as of 2023. Journalists have filed about 30% of these requests.
Globally, 140 countries have enacted Right to Information laws, with Bangladesh ranked 27th.
The Chief Information Commissioner urged journalists to ensure accuracy and integrity in their reporting, highlighting the importance of disseminating information correctly.
Information Commis-sioner Shahidul Alam spoke about the appeals process and the importance of journalists being well-versed in the Acts provisions. Information Commissioner Masuda Bhatti provided insights on information retention, document destruction, information management, and the proactive disclosure of information.
Special resource persons at the workshop included Syed Ishtiaq Reza, Editor-in-Chief of Dhaka Journal, and Hasibur Rahman Mukur, Executive Director of MRDI.
Among the 60 journalists attending the training programme, Information Commission Bangladesh Secretary Zubaida Nasreen was also present.
