NGOs and activists still promoting the RTI law, however, tell us there have been recent indications of interest among youths in exercising the law.

The success of the RTI Act anywhere in the world largely depends on the determination and commitment of the citizens to put it to practical use.

Now is the opportunity for our youth to lead us in using existing laws to build a better country.

The Right to Information Act, 2009 specifies a mechanism for citizens to access all information—with few exceptions—available to the government and many other public authorities.

In the last few months, we have received some very encouraging feedback from users of the RTI law about the Information Commission's work.

Through the RTI Commission of Sri Lanka, citizens could weight in on matters impacting the nation.

The experiences of Sri Lanka and Pakistan are lessons for everyone concerned with promoting the right to information.

Indications of the growing maturity of RTI Act users and the increasing willingness of public officials to abide by its provisions are indeed welcome developments.

Can public officials ever become transparent in their work and feel accountable to citizens?

Citizens’ right to monitor, probe and question the work of their governments is essential for democracy.

Seeking information is not only a right of citizens, but also a civic duty.

Unless there is a drastic change in the mentality and attitudes of citizens and public officials alike about the new reality, RTI cannot flourish.

RTI Act is one of our most powerful instruments to hold the government accountable.

The right to know doesn’t end with the existence of a law.

To obtain the full potentials of the law, we must go beyond such perfunctory rituals and focus more on strategies to go ahead.

There is a huge need for data in every aspect of human life, from personal life to business, social, scientific, economic, and public policy and decision-making processes.

In recent weeks, two important government ministers—Law Minister Mr Anisul Huq, and Information Minister Mr Hasan Mahmud—have given vocal support to a fuller implementation of our national Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Our region is well-known for its deep-rooted culture of official secrecy inherited from colonial times. So why the proliferation of a rigorous law that gives citizens a tool to probe their governments and restrain their arbitrary use of power? Nearly all countries in South Asia have now enacted a Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Arunendu works for the Rangamati Hill District Council in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region of Bangladesh. He is known for his dedication and commitment to public service.

It is hard to believe that Fahim is no more; it seems like a bad dream from which we will wake up to see his ever smiling, jovial and pleasant face, cracking a joke or pulling somebody's leg.