'Can't understand reluctance to seek information'

Khushi Kabir, who campaigned for establishment of Information Commission, says she finds “reluctance” among people to seek information.

The Information Commission was set up five years ago.

“Maybe there is a disconnect (between the law and the people),” she said at a discussion at bdnews24.com office.

Bangladesh’s first internet newspaper and the Information Commission co-hosted the discussion to evaluate the performance of the constitutional entity.

Kaspersky Lab supported the event.

The Right to Information Ordinance was passed under the military-backed caretaker regime in October 2008.

After the Awami League government took office, it passed the Right to Information Act on March 29, 2009. The commission was formed on July 1.

Kabir, Coordinator of Nijera Kori, said there was a “lack of trust” among the public about the information commission, though she said the commission was “open enough”.

She termed the law ‘positive’ for the people, but said there should have been a wave of requests for information after its enactment.

Chief Information Commissioner Mohammed Farooq earlier said in the first year around 25,000 people sought information from them, but the rate declined after that.

bdnews24.com Editor-in-Chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi moderated the discussion.

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