Bangladesh News

Welcoming the caretaker government’s move to formulate the right to information (RTI) law, leaders of different political parties yesterday promised to include in their election manifesto pledges to implement it.

Such a law will help ensure political parties’ accountability towards the people, and transparency in their decision making and financial management, if they are brought under the purview of the law, some of the leaders noted.

They were attending an opinion exchange meeting organised jointly by Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) and People’s Empowerment Trust in the capital yesterday.

GM Quader, a former Jatiya Party lawmaker, presented the keynote speech on ‘Right to Information: Commitment of Political Parties within Election Manifesto and Its Implementation’, with MJF Executive Director Shaheen Anam in the chair.

Pointing out a trend in developing countries where political parties turn into profit mongering business type institutions, Quader said dictatorial leadership and secrecy in decision making and financial management result in corruption of politics through recruitment of criminals who later start controlling the parties.

“Political parties seem more focused on representing the voices and interests of the leadership, members, and the patrons… while ownership of the parties is no more with the people,” he said, stressing the need for collective decision making process.

Once the RTI law is enacted, the people will have access to information on political parties’ decisions, balance sheets, committees, etc.

“To force parties to disclose information, they will have to be brought under the purview of the law. If it cannot be done right at the moment, it can be done later through an amendment,” he added.

Asked for their commitment to put RTI in their election manifestos, Liberal Democratic Party President Oli Ahmed said they have already done it.

Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal’s Shirin Akhter, and Bangladesh Kalyan Party’s Mohammad Ali also said they will include it.

Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh Secretary General Abdul Mannan said he will try to include a commitment to the law in their election manifesto while Jatiya Party’s GM Quader said, “I think it will be in Jatiya Party’s election manifesto.”

Although, Rashed Khan Menon opposed enacting the law during the caretaker government’s tenure, he welcomed the draft of it and the initiation of a discussion by the government.

The participants asked the government to cut down the number of scenarios for exemptions to ensure a maximum number of disclosures.

Welcoming the political parties’ commitment to RTI, Shaheen Anam said, “Without ownership by politicians, RTI law cannot be implemented properly.”

“Let us have the ordinance as early as possible, we can have amendments later if we feel we need any,” she said asking the politicians to discuss the matter in their party forums to convince others.

Unnayan Shamannay Chairman Dr Atiur Rahman, Acting General Secretary of Gono Forum Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, former information minister also LDP leader Syed Didar Bakht, Progressive Democratic Party leader Abul Hasan Chowdhury, and Rokeya Rafiq Baby of Karmajibi Nari also stressed the need for RTI as a tool for development and people’s empowerment.

Dr Asif Nazrul of Dhaka University moderated the discussion.