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Proposed RTI ordinance to further restrict access to info

Say journalists

Staff Correspondent
Journalist leaders yesterday rejected the proposed Right to Information Ordinance 2008 say ing it is full of inconsistencies' which would further restrict peo pie's access to information.
They said the government has extended the number of organisations exempted from disclosure of information from nine to 20 disregarding their demand for reducing them.
They also opposed the keeping of Criminal Investigation Department of police and NGOs, which do not receive government funds, out of the reach of the law.
The leaders of South Asian Free Media Association (Safma), Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ). Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), South Asia Media Commission's Bangladesh chapter and editors of several newspapers urged the government to remove the inconsistencies before giving final approval.
They were speaking at a discussion on the draft of the proposed ordinance organised by Media Commission, Bangladesh and the Bangladesh chapter of South Asia Media Commission at the National Press Club (NPC) in the city with its Chairman Dr Mizanur Rahman Shelly in the chair.
"The draft is full of so many inconsistencies that it would rather obstruct than facilitating free flow of information," said NPC President Shawkat Mahmud.
The definition of information does not include international treaties, he said, adding, the government has kept NGOs out from
the reach of the law “disregarding our demand for including political parties also."
He strongly opposed exemption of information on discussions and decisions of the cabinet or the council of advisers, under-investigation matters, and issues like parliamentary privileges and contempt of court
The draft also does not include provision for immediate disclosure of information to journalists.
"If passed as it is now, the law will be the worst in South Asia.” said Asif Nazrul, a law teacher of Dhaka University.
“The draft does not say clearly whether the RTI ordinance would act upon the Official Secrets Act and
other laws that obstruct free flow of information," he said.
BFUJ President Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul and Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamol Dutta joined others to say that it is better to have no law than to have a bad law.
Expressing his fear that the Information Commission is going to be dependent on the government, Mahbubul Alam, editor of The Independent and a former adviser to caretaker government, said, "I could not imagine how the government could formulate such a draft."
“This is going to be an improved version of Official Secrets Act," said Safina President Reazuddin Ahmed.
“Apart from informing the government of our decision to reject the
draft, we also want to say that there is a consensus on taking to the street to stop enactment of the law.
“We can also file a writ," Reazuddin added.
Senior journalist Ataus Samad, BFUJ President Mozammel Haq and Secretary General Abdul Jalil Bhuiyan, Dhaka Union of Journalists President Abdus Shahid, New Age Editor Nurul Kabir, Managing Director of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha Jaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, Prof Sakhawat Ali Khan and Advocate Alena Khan, executive director of Bangladesh Society for Establishment of Human Rights also participated in the discussion.