Govt set to revive Information Commission

At least one of the two commissioners will be a woman

The interim government is set to reconstitute the Information Commission.

A notice addressing the matter will be issued soon, the information and broadcasting ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

In line with the Right to Information Act of 2009, the panel will consist of a chief information commissioner and two information commissioners, the ministry added. At least one of the two commissioners must be a woman.

Following the changeover in power, then chief information commissioner Abdul Malek, appointed during the tenure of the ousted Awami League government, was relieved of his duties on Sept 10, 2024. Information commissioner Shahidul Alam was also removed from his post. Later, on Jan 20 this year, another information commissioner, Masuda Bhatti, also lost her position.

On Jul 23, corruption watchdog Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) expressed concern over the inactive state of both the Information Commission and the Human Rights Commission since the interim government assumed power.

Earlier, in December last year, the Right to Information Forum had also called for the formation of a new Information Commission.

After nearly a year of dormancy, the government has now announced the initiative to revive the commission.