Call to raise awareness about right to information

Rupantar, an NGO, in cooperation with Manusher Jonno Foundation organised the divisional level workshop to exchange views on working paper on 'Right to Information Law-2000 proposed by the Law Commission of the government of Bangladesh'.

Advocate Elina Khan, executive director of Bangladesh Society for Enforcement of Human Rights (BSEHR), moderated the workshop held at the conference room of Hotel Royal International in Khulna.

Prof Asif Nazrul of Law Department, Dhaka University, explained various aspects of the draft of the law.

Issues relating to constitutional right to express opinion, accountability of the government and the political parties, punishment for not providing information and formation of an information commission were also discussed at the meeting.

Shahana Huda, manager of Media and Communication, Manusher Jonno, Sanjida Sobhan of Manusher Jonno Foundation, Swapan Guha, chief executive of Rupantar, freedom fighter Sheikh Abdul Kayyum, chairperson of Khulna Citizens' Forum, Prof Anwarul Kadir, journalists Makbul Hossain Mintoo and SM Zahid Hossain, Prof Shahnewaz Nazimuddin and NGO activists Shamima Sultana Shilu and Rehana Parvin took part in the workshop.

The meeting resolved that necessary changes should be brought to the draft on the basis of recommendations placed by the participants at the workshop.