As a nation navigating a challenging political and economic period along with seeking to rebuild its democratic foundations, access to information must be recognized as an indispensable prerequisite for accountable governance, anti-corruption, and institutional trust.
To that end, as the global community observes the International Day for Universal Access to Information under the theme "Upholding Information Integrity in the Digital Age," we must contend with some uncomfortable truths.
Historically, Bangladesh did take a progressive step with the enactment of the Right to Information (RTI) Act in 2009. Yet, the promise of that landmark legislation has been repeatedly undermined by bureaucratic resistance, colonial-era cultures of secrecy, and prolonged periods of institutional paralysis.
In our current socio-political context, institutional secrecy breeds rumours, public cynicism, and instability. At a time when disinformation and misinformation continues to grow, and technologies only amplify their reach, it is integral for everyday citizens to be empowered with the right to know and become more informed citizens.
Indeed, if citizens are to hold the government accountable for their decisions and actions, they must first know how they are governed.
To build a truly democratic society, the state must treat the right to know as non-negotiable.Digitizing public records and ensuring unhindered access to official data for citizens are critical steps in this endeavour.
Transparency has never been a threat to effective governance, and this and subsequent administrations must recognize that it is rather the strongest defense to effective governance.
On this International Day for Universal Access to Information, we hope that the authorities concerned recognize that an informed citizenry is in its best interest, and to suppress and withhold information from the public goes against any nation’s best interests.
