DHAKA, June 9, 2024 (BSS) – Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Dr Abdul Malek today emphasized on the continuity of spontaneous release of information to build ‘Smart Bangladesh’.
 
“There is no alternative to ensuring free flow of information at this juncture for the country’s transition from ‘Digital Bangladesh’ to ‘Smart Bangladesh’. All offices should continue releasing information from their own initiative through notice boards, billboards and annual reports,” he said.
 
The CIC said this at the inaugural ceremony of a workshop on "Right to Information Act, 2009" at the Information Commission office in the city, according to a press release.
 
A total of 60 senior journalists of print and electronic media from Dhaka district attended the workshop.
 
Noting that no authority will be exempted from the obligation of disclosing information in future, Malek said, “"Let us not forget the slogan, 'If the people want information, the administration is obliged to give it'."
 
A total of 140 countries in the world have RTI laws, he said, adding that Bangladesh ranks 27th among them in terms of availability of information, disposing of complaints, spontaneous release of information, updating information on websites and other matters.
 
Information commissioners Shahidul Alam and Masuda Bhatti also spoke on the occasion.
 
Dhaka Journal Editor-in-Chief Syed Ishtiaq Reza and MRDI Executive Director Hasibur Rahman conducted sessions at the workshop as resource persons.