International Day for Universal Access to Information to be observed Tuesday

The International Day for Universal Access to Information will be observed on Tuesday in the country as elsewhere across the world with the theme "Information is my right, is it known to all?”

Different government and non-government organizations have taken various programs to mark the day.

The Information Commission will organize a discussion in its conference room in Agargaon area while Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud will attend as the chief guest.

President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the eve of the day, wishing all-out success to the activities set up to commemorate the day.

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The president in his message welcomed the initiatives undertaken to observe the day in the country like elsewhere in the globe to ensure the free flow of information.

The Constitution of Bangladesh has enshrined the freedom of thought, conscience, and speech as one of the fundamental rights of the citizens, he said, adding it is the constitutional right of every person to get and know information. 

Abdul Hamid said the government has formulated the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2009, giving priority to people's right to know, and constituted the Information Commission to implement the act.

Observing that the RTI act is the strongest weapon to establish transparency, accountability, and good governance, he said the act certainly has given the legal base to the people to get information.

The RTI act can get fulfillment with the spontaneous participation of people from all backgrounds, including the participation of the country’s government and non-government organizations, print and electronic media, civil society members, public representatives, and political leaders.   

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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her message said the Awami League government passed the RTI Act, 2009, in the 9th Jatiya Sangsad aiming at empowering the people by ensuring the rights of getting information.

“To expand the span of free flow of information, alongside Bangladesh Television (BTV), we approved private satellite television for the first time during our 1996-2001 tenure," she said adding, so far 45 private television channels, 28 FM radio stations and 32 community radios have been approved.

Noting that the ‘Bangabandhu Satellite-1’ was successfully launched into geostationary earth orbit (GEO), the head of the government said now the private TV channels along with the BTV are airing their programs through the satellite, making the process of getting information easier and cost-effective.

By launching Sangsad Television, the information regarding the parliament session is being reached directly to the people, Sheikh Hasina said, adding that to expand the civic amenities, the Bangladesh National Portal has been launched.

“Today 'Digital Bangladesh' is a reality. We are working with the target that Bangladesh would be a developed-prosperous country before 2041. With the collective efforts of all, we will build the 'Sonar Bangla' as dreamt by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Inshallah," she added.

Observing that the whole world including Bangladesh is in deep crisis due to pandemic, the premier urged all to perform their duties properly to overcome the crisis.