By Mehedi Shamim | 27 Jul, 2023
As a young researcher passionate about transparency, accountability, and good governance, conducting research on the right to information in Bangladesh was a fulfilling experience. My research was supported by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), a leading organization in promoting transparency and accountability in the country.
From the outset, I was excited about the research as the right to information is a fundamental tool for ensuring good governance and preventing corruption. It empowers citizens to hold governments and other public institutions accountable, and it also enables them to participate fully in decision-making processes that affect their lives.
To begin, I reviewed the legal framework of Bangladesh's right-to-information laws, which exist under the Right-to-Information Act 2009. I analyzed the provisions of this law, including the legal obligations of public officials, rules for requesting information, and procedures for appeals and complaints.
I also conducted interviews with various stakeholders, including government officials, civil society organizations, and ordinary citizens. These interviews helped to provide a better understanding of how the right-to-information laws were being implemented in practice, and the extent to which they were effective in promoting transparency and accountability.
One of the key findings of the research was that, despite the existence of right-to-information laws, there were still significant gaps in their implementation. Public institutions were often unresponsive to requests for information, and even when they did respond, the information provided was often incomplete, inconsistent, or vague.
Another key finding was that awareness among citizens and civil society organizations about the right to information laws was still low. There was a need to increase awareness-raising efforts to ensure that citizens knew their rights and how to exercise them effectively.
Overall, the research conducted on the right to information in Bangladesh was a valuable experience. It provided insight into how the law was working in practice and the challenges that needed to be addressed to ensure that citizens are able to fully exercise their right to information. Moreover, collaborating with TIB reinforced my commitment to promoting transparency and accountability, and I look forward to future opportunities to engage in similar work.