Repeal of Official Secrets Act demanded

Jono Odhikar Bangladesh, an platform of four social organisations and eminent personalities, organised the programme in front of the Arts building.

"Apart from neighbouring India, 61 countries in the world have framed law to ensure people's rights to information", the speakers said. They said, "The Access to Information bill has not been passed in parliament due to the bureaucratic tangle and reluctance of the policymakers, though the government has taken an initiative in this regard."

They said that at present, right to information depends on the mercy of the government whereas it is a human right. The government is hindering the free flow of information, they added.

Dr Golam Rahman, professor of the Mass Communication and Journalism Department, Dhaka University, presided over the function.

Nagarik Sanghati General Secretary Sharifuzzaman Sharif, Dr Md samad, Engineer Inamul Haque, Dr Helena Ferdous, Prof Robayet Ferdous, Dr Gobinda Chakraborty, Citizens Rights Movement Secretary General Tusher Rehman and DU students Priyanka Swarnakar and Ahsanul Haque spoke at the programme.