The right to information act will be implemented even though it will take time to establish the culture of disclosure, Cabinet Secretary Muhammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said yesterday.
He urged officials to keep the right to information act as simple as possible, warning that making it too complex might create obstacles to its implementation.
“Our officials hesitate when asked for information, unsure of whether they should comply or not. Now guidelines in the right to information act will help remove their doubt”, he said while addressing a meeting organised by Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) in partnership with Manuesr Jonno Foundation (MJF) at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
The cabinet secretary said guidelines and policies were not legally binding. “But they are, morally.”
In partnership with Information Commission, the MRDI has recently provided technical assistance for developing information disclosure policies (IDP) of five ministries, including land, agriculture, industries, public administration and the primary and mass education.
MRDI Executive Director Hasibur Rahman at the meeting described the IDP as an internal guideline for any authority formed on the basis of the right to information act. “Any authority based on the act can follow the guideline to disclose information to the people.”
The meeting was attended by Information Commissioner Khurshida Begum Sayeed and Nepal Chandra Sarker and MJF Executive Director Shaheen Anam amomg others.
Chief Information Commissioner Mohammed Farooq chaired the meeting.
