Inu asks govt officials to change behavior to implement RTI Act

DHAKA, May 27, 2018 (BSS) - Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu today urged the government officials to change their behavior of maintaining secrecy in disclosing information and work strategy to ensure free flow of information for making a bridge between the government and people.

"You (government officials) should change your behavior and work strategy to implement the Right to Information (RTI) Act-2009 to make a bridge between the government and people through ensuring free flow of information," he said at the inaugural function of a workshop at the conference room of Information Commission in the city's Sher-E-Bangla Nagar area.

Information Commission organized the workshop on implementation of the RTI Act-2009 for the top government officials with Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Martuza Ahmed in the chair.

Information Secretary Abdul Malek addressed the inaugural function as the special guest while Information Commissioner Nepal Chandra Sarker was present in the function, among others.

Addressing the workshop, Inu said enactment of RTI Act-2009 was a time befitting initiative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government after assuming the office in 2009 that has empowered the people.

Urging the government officials to help the government in making policies, the minister said, "You (government officials) should not only perform your routine works or implement the government's decisions. But you should also help the government in making different policies".

He also urged the officials to become genuine public servant making the administration transparent and accountable by implementing the RTI Act in their respective offices.

Criticizing the role of media in publishing reports on anti-narcotic drives, Inu urged the journalists not to term the casualties of the drive as extra judiciary killings, saying that the people were killed in gunfights with members of the law enforcement agencies.

Martuza Ahmed in his presidential speech urged the government officials to change their restricted mentality in disclosing information and take different initiatives to implement the RTI Act.

Top government officials, including director generals of different directorates and departments affiliated to different ministries took part in the workshop.