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You can find here different kinds of articles related to the Right To Information or Freedom Of Information Act. We have tried to discuss about the RTI Act of the world  along with the Right To Information Act-2009 of my loving country. 

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The basic object of the RTI Act is to empower the citizens

Today's knowledge based world is now resonating with the call for meaningful democracy backed by transparency and accountability in the state engine and peoples right of access to information has gained a good importance. 

In a modern democratic state, the right to information, more popularly described as the right to know, is an vital prerequisite. 
 

RTI Act in the SAARC Countries of South Asia

Among the SAARC Countries, Pakistan was the first to issue an ordinance in 2002 namely “Freedom of Information Ordinance, 2002”. But the country failed to assert and implement the Act due to various national and administrative complications.

Similarly, SAARC country Sri Lanka, being subjected to their prolonged civil war, could not compile any law regarding the information right. On the other hand, Nepal has issued the RTI Act in 2007 and has granted the decision of including the right to information as a part of the constitutionally defined fundamental rights.

The Right to Information Act and benefit of the people

Probably Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SM) was the first to introduce the Right to Information Act, which we do not feel at all. He implemented the Right to Information Act in his 63-year life and 23-year balanced rule of law successfully, though the task of the RTI has only been introduced in the seventeenth century in the modern world.

Begining from His personal life to social life including state life, He showed the effectiveness of the Right to Information Act. However, for this reason his administration created the histrical example of strict accountability, transparency and integrity. It was His first slogan for the Right to Information Act that ''you have to spread an Ayat or sentence of the Holy Qur'an among the people if needed.'' He was not loyal for hiding any information in the interest of accountability.

Background of the Right To Information Act of Bangladesh

 The right to obtain information is an integral part of civil liberties. It is recognized as one of the important elements of empowering human, which is obligatory to enhance transparency and accountability in government, statuary and constitutional organizations as well as private institutions run by government or foreign funding.

 It is believed that proper implementation of the RTI Act would reduce corruption and establish good governance. From this observation and belief, the government of the People‟s Republic of Bangladesh has enacted the Right to Information Act (RTI) in 2009, established the Information Commission as the law implementing authority and appointed all necessary officials.

Implementation of Fundamental Human Rights by the Information Commission

Freedom of thought, conscience and speech are identified as the significant fundamental human rights by article-39 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. 

Having considered the right to information as the precondition of ensuring civil liberties, the Government of Bangladesh enacted the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2009.

Rules and Regulations published by the Information Commission

To ensure effective implementation of the RTI Act, the Information Commission has been authorized to issue necessary rules and regulations.

Since its operation, the Commission has issued the following rules and regulations:

Right to Information (accessing information) Rules, 2009; 

Activities of Information Commission on RTI

Right to Information (RTI) Act-2009 is the outcome of a long-term process. The RTI Act and the activities of the Information Commission of Bangladesh have generated

massive interest within the nation. Apart of the government, the non-governmental and international organizations, print and electronic media and the corporate institutions are assisting the Information Commission in its endeavor. 

Specialty of Right to Information Act, 2009

The Right to Information Act, 2009 of Bangladesh owns a number of extraordinary characteristics. Unlike the other laws, this Act has preserved the rights for the perceptual handicapped individuals by adding a separate sub-section. 

The sub-section-9(1) states that ''the officer-in-charge shall provide assistance to the perceptual handicapped individuals to enable him/her accessing information when sought.‟

Supremacy of the Right to Information Act-2009

According to the Right to Information Act- 2009 if any case of providing information collides with the Official Secrets Act-1923, then this Act has the authority to supersede those rules (section-3 of the RTI Act-2009). Section-3 of the RTI Act, 2009 goes as followed:

“Of any existing law–(a) the provisions of providing information shall not be affected by the provisions of this Act; and (b) the provisions of creating impediment in providing information shall be superseded by the provisions of this Act if they become conflicting with the provisions of this Act.”

What is Information according to RTI Act?

What is Information? Information is any material in any form.

It includes any memo, book, design, map, contract, data, log book, order, notification, document, sample, letter, report, accounts, project proposal, photograph, audio, video, drawing, painting, film, any instrument done through electronic process, machine readable record, and any other documentary material regardless of its physical form or characteristics, and any copy thereof in relation to the constitution, structure and official activities of any authority.

How to make a request for information?

You must submit an application to the concerned Designated Officer (DO) of the concerned authority directly.

All information requests must be in writing (this includes e-mail) and provide the applicant’s name, address and other particulars for a response in prescribed format as mentioned in the Rules.


Describe the information sought for as correctly and clearly as possible.

Designated Officer's (DO) Duty for providing Information.

According to the RTI Act, every authority is legally bound to appoint a Designated Officer for each of the information providing units at central, divisional, district and Upazila at the lowest level in every government and non-government organization who would provide the sought information to the applicants following the regulations and exceptions of the law in exchange of the determined fee. 

The Designated Officer (DO) shall render reasonable assistance to the persons seeking information. If a person is unable to make a request in writing, he may seek the help of the DO to write his application.

Appeal Procedure for obtaining RTI

If an applicant is not supplied information within the prescribed time of 20 or 30 days or 24 hours, as the case may be, or is not satisfied with the information furnished to him or is aggrieved by a decision of the Designated Officer, may prefer an appeal to the Appellate Authority who is the administrative head of its immediate superior office within a period or thirty days from the date on which the time limit expires or receipt of such a decision.

The appellate authority of the public authority shall dispose of the appeal within a period of fifteen days after hearing the concerned parties to the appeal petition.

Powers and Fuctions of Information Commission

The Information Commission (IC) enforces and oversees the Right to Information Act, Rules and Regulations made under the Act. 

The  Information Commission's main functions are educating and influencing. It promote good practice and give information and advice for resolving problems and enforcing. IC resolve eligible complaints from people who think their rights have been breached. It use legal sanctions against those who ignore or refuse to accept their obligations. 

Exemptions from Disclosure according to RTI Act.

The right to seek information from a public authority is not absolute. Sections 7of the Act enumerates the categories of information which are exempt from disclosure.

At the same time the Schedule attached to the Act contains the names of the Organizations which are exempt from the purview of the Act.

IC needs its own network throughout the country

The Information Commission is now in the midst of implementing the RTI Act, a task which without cooperation of government offices and the citizens appears difficult to fulfill. In other words, we are in a rudimentary stage which might as well be termed a teething period.

In view of this, Orissa's awareness building campaign provides some cues as far as awareness building to ensure citizens' participation in implementing RTI goes.

Disposal of Complaints by the Information Commission

The Information Commission decides complaints and conveys its decision to the complainant and Appellate Authority/Designated Officer.

Any person who, does not receive a decision within the time specified, or is aggrieved by a decision of the Designated  Officer or the Appellate Authority, as the case may be, may within thirty days from the expiry of such period or from the receipt of such a decision submit a complaint to the Information Commission. 

The role of Civil Society and Media to implement the RTI

We every have to help apply the RTI act more effectively in the interest of transparency and accountability in public service deliveries.

For this purpose Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) can play key roles in monitoring the services delivered by public offices and building awareness of RTI act. Their  proactive role will prevent the abuse of power and public resources.

Important questions about RTI Act-2009?

1. Q: Do all people have the right to get information?

Answer: Section-4 of the  Right to Information Act-2009 guarantees that every citizen has the right to information and the concerned authority is obligated to provide information at the request of a person.

2. Q: Is there any explanation provided in the Act on the definition of information?

Answer: Section-2(f) of the Act clearly classifies information. For example, Information means any memo, book, design, map, agreement, information-data, log book, order, notice, document, sample, letter, statement, accounts, project proposal, photographs, audio-video, painting, film, electronically made instrument, machine readable documents and any informational material or its replica with regards to formation and functioning of any organization. However, any official note sheet or copy of a note sheet will not be included.

Bangladesh has long suffered from not having a RTI Act

The Right to Information (RTI) Act has been in existence for over three years. But ironically, this Act which is full of significance in creating conditions for good governance, accountability of the government and promoting people's basic rights to know about government's decisions, actions or lack of actions and policies, remains hardly known to people for whose benefit it was introduced in the first place.

Legislations centred on RTI are in full force in many countries of the world specially in the ones which are developed and ruled democratically. The same were found to be powerful tools in asserting citizens' rights to compel government bureaucracies to divulge information to people about matters of interest or significance to them.