RTI Forum has called for competence, impartiality and commitment to public interest as the highest priority alongside the ability of the prospective candidates to discharge their responsibilities in the appointment of the chief information commissioner and information commissioners.
The forum made the call in a letter to Justice Farah Mahbub of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, also chair of the recently reconstituted five-member Selection Committee and all its members tasked with recommending candidates for the appointment of the chief information commissioner and two information commissioners.
Constituted under Section 14(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2009, the selection committee recently invited applications from qualified and interested candidates for the posts of chief information commissioner and two information commissioners.
Welcoming the move, the forum said the process presents an opportunity to finally establish the long-standing public expectation of an independent and effective Information Commission.
The forum stated that effective implementation of the Right to Information Act depends on a competent, impartial, and citizen-oriented Information Commission.
In appointing the chief information commissioner and information commissioners, RTI Forum expected that the selection committee will assess ability of the candidates to perform the responsibilities prescribed under the RTI Act as well as their competence, objectivity, and impartiality to perform their duties independently, free from all forms of influence.
Such appointments will help facilitate the free flow of information and ensure citizens' right to information by considering public interest as highest priority.
Describing the RTI Act as one of the most powerful instruments for safeguarding citizens' freedom of expression and thought, strengthening citizens participation in governance, promoting transparency and accountability, reducing corruption, and protecting other fundamental rights, the forum emphasised that its effective implementation depends on a competent and impartial Commission.
The forum pointed out that the Act has not achieved its full potential due to appointments influenced by partisan political considerations and bureaucratic interests and expressed hope that the current selection committee will help end this practice by taking the right decision.
Shaheen Anam, convener, RTI Forum, made the call on behalf of its core group members: Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, founding secretary, Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan); Dr Iftekharuzzaman, executive director, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB); Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, executive director, COAST Trust; Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, executive director, Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS); AHM Bazlur Rahman, chief executive officer, Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC); Zakir Hossain, chief executive, Nagorik Uddyog; Dr Ananya Raihan, chairperson, iSocial; Barrister Sara Hossain, honorary executive director, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (Blast); Rafiqul Islam Khokon, Executive Director, Rupantar; Hasibur Rahman, executive director, Media Resources Development Initiative (MRDI); Ruhi Naz, deputy director, Research Initiatives, Bangladesh (RIB); and Hamidul Islam Hillol, project manager, Tobacco Tax Project, Bureau of Economic Research, University of Dhaka.
