Right to Information Act (RTI) can play a vital role in establishing ‘Good Governance’ in the country. It’s only possible through ensuring transparency and accountability in a democratic country. In this aspect, RTI has paved the way for journalists to collect information in any situation from government and non-government offices. Citizens in a democratic country have the right to put demand to the government to ensure this. As the current government is believed in freedom of press and freedom of expression that’s why it empowered its countrymen by enacting the RTI act in 2009. Speakers said this while addressing in an opening programme of ‘Two-day long journalist training on RTI’ in Rangamati.
With support from Asia Foundation, Ashika Development Associates, a non-government development organisation, under the project of Promoting Engagement of Civil Society in Governance of Chittagong Hill Tracts, organised the training held at its conference hall in the town on Monday.
On first day, participants discussed on various points including barriers, effectiveness and about ultimate outcome of RTI, how to make easy the way of collection information by applying the act by the citizens etc. Participants also stressed the need for creating awareness among the common people about RTI as they can exercise it, provide more training to the government officials for the interest of smooth execution of the much-expected act and setting up of offices at district or divisional level for ensure better services. So, Journalists were urged to play their due role in spreading information about RTI. Additional deputy magistrate Md. Al-Mamun-Miah inaugurated the training as the chief guest while Mustafizur Rahman, chief executive officer of Abunx, was present as resource person. Biplab Chakma, executive director of Ashika made the welcome speech. Deputy director of Ashika, Koxy Talukder presented the power point on Ashika’s activities in the programme. A total of 56 journalists of print and electronics medias are taking part in the training.
