President Mohammed Shahabuddin said on Sunday that the Information Commission of Bangladesh (ICB) should be proactive in performing its duties.
The president gave the directive when a four-member ICB delegation handed over the “Information Commission’s Annual Report 2023” to him at Bangabhaban.
Chief Information Commissioner Dr Abdul Malek submitted it to the president, while information commissioners Shahidul Alam Zinuk and Masuda Bhatti, and ICB Commission Secretary Zubaida Nasreen were present.
President's Press Secretary Joynal Abedin briefed reporters after the meeting.
Saying that it is the right of the people to have access to information, he asked the commission to be aware so that no one is harassed in the process of getting information when necessary.
The chief information commissioner briefed the president about various aspects of the annual report and the overall activities of the ICB.
Mentioning the role of the Right to Information Act as very important to ensuring transparency and accountability of state activities, the president thanked the Information Commission of Bangladesh for being elected as an executive member of the International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC).
Expressing satisfaction over the overall functioning of the ICB, he hoped that the Information Commission would intensify its activities to ensure the constitutional and fundamental rights of people by carefully removing barriers.
Dr Malek said the commission has received 156,000 information seekers’ applications, and most of those have been provided so far.
He said the ICB is working continuously to create public awareness at the grassroots level about the Right to Information Act.
He sought the cooperation of the president in the overall activities of the ICB.
