Information Commission pledges impartiality, unveils 100-day action plan
The Information Commission Bangladesh has pledged to discharge its duties independently and impartially, without favouring either the government or the public, to strengthen democratic practices and ensure good governance.
Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Prof. Dr Nahrin Islam Khan made the pledge today while briefing journalists on the newly formed commission’s 100-day action plan at its conference room in Agargaon.
Describing the media as a key partner in ensuring the commission’s independence and neutrality, Nahrin said journalists would play a vital role in building public confidence in the institution.
“The commission’s doors will remain open to all journalists,” she said.
Highlighting a shortage of manpower, the CIC said the commission currently has only 22 officials and employees against an approved strength of 76, despite operating from a 15-storey building.
As part of its 100-day action plan, the commission will organise a week-long ‘Information Fair Week’ at universities during the last week of November to raise awareness about the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
Similar initiatives will gradually be extended to schools and colleges, she said.
The CIC said hearings on 95 of the 917 complaints accumulated over the past two years would begin at the commission’s office on November 16. Meanwhile, more than 200 new complaints have already been received since the new commission assumed office.
The commission also plans to arrange training for journalists, content creators and politicians, monitor the websites of institutions receiving government funding or foreign grants, and introduce information disclosure policies at universities.
Letters have already been sent to university vice-chancellors in this regard.
Acknowledging that the commission had failed to make any significant contribution over the past 17 years, Nahrin sought constructive criticism and cooperation from journalists to overcome its existing challenges.
Information Commissioner SAM Mahfuzur Rahman said the RTI Act could play a transformative role in ensuring people's right to information, while the media remained the commission's most important partner in promoting transparency and accountability.
He also highlighted the media's responsibility to ensure factual and credible information amid growing risks of misinformation and disinformation associated with the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) and information technology (IT).
Another Information Commissioner, Khan Mohammad Abul Hossain, said a huge backlog of work had accumulated during the commission's two years of inactivity. The newly formed commission had started working under its 100-day action plan to address the situation, he added.
Officials of different levels of the Information Commission attended the briefing.
