Experts on Thursday urged to establish the Information Commission Bangladesh as an independent constitutional body to ensure its independence in strengthening democracy and accountability.
They made the call at a press conference on effectiveness of the Information Commission and amendments to the Right to Information Act, organised by the Right to Information Forum at the Transparency International Bangladesh office in the capital Dhaka.
They also proposed several amendments to the Right to Information Act, 2009 to enhance the commission鈥檚 effectiveness.
Noting that the Information Commission has been non-functional for the past six months due to the vacancy of top posts, they urged the immediate step to fill the vacant posts of the commission.
Hasibur Rahman, executive director of the Media Resources Development Initiative, emphasised the need for establishing the Information Commission as an independent constitutional body.
He suggested that the commission should have the power to file lawsuits or be sued.
He recommended that qualified people be appointed to key positions and the chief information commissioner and other commissioners be appointed within 45 days of any vacancy.
Right to Information Forum convener Shaheen Anam, also executive director of the Manusher Jonno Foundation, expressed concern over the current interim government鈥檚 indifference towards the commission鈥檚 dysfunction.
She reiterated the need for reforms in the RTI Act enacted in 2009, particularly emphasising the importance of making the Information Commission an independent constitutional body similar to the Election Commission.
She said that only then the commission would be able to function effectively, ensuring greater transparency and accountability.
Addressing the press conference, Shusashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar urged for the inclusion of political parties in the RTI Act.
He highlighted the importance of transparency and accountability for political parties, arguing that these constitutionally recognised institutions should have the same standards of transparency as other entities.
Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of the TIB, said that the government should answer why the Information Commission was not formed in the same way as the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Election Commission were established.
Noting the need for reforms, he further said, 鈥楾he Information Commission was run by party cadres at one stage. Party cadres were at the leadership level. We hope that such practices will not repeat under the interim government.鈥�
He also stressed that people with a history of opposing information disclosure should not be appointed to the commission, as such appointments would undermine the commission鈥檚 primary goal of promoting transparency and accountability.