The government and all stakeholders should workjointly to ensure the best use of the Right to Information (RTI) Act and its proper implementation, speakers at a discussion said yesterday.

They also called for launching an effective campaign to raise awareness about the act among its beneficiaries.

The RTI Act was enacted in a landmark move to ensure people's access to information, they said, adding that now the major challenge is to make the people aware of the rules and provisions under the law.

The Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) with support from the USAID and Progati organised the consultation meeting in Khulna. Government officials, local government representatives, NGO and rights activists, journalists, teachers and other professionals, and members of the civil society took part in the meeting.

Speaking at the programme, Deputy Commissioner of Khulna Jamsher Ahmed Khandker termed the culture of secrecy the biggest obstacle to the implementation of the RTI Act.

He also emphasised the need to make

voluntary disclosure of information.

Barrister Tanjib-ul Alam made a presentation on the strength and weaknesses of the law, limitations of the Information Commission and major clauses and provisions under the RTI Act.

He stressed the need for determining the status of the information commissioners to strengthen the Information Commission.

Executive Director of D.Net Dr Ananya Raihan, who moderated the discussion, said every institution involved in the implementing process has to make its own preparations.

Executive Director of MRDI Hasibur Rahman said the law will succeed only when the marginal people will benefit from it.

He added that the institutions have to be pro-active in providing information to those who need information and seek information.

Findings of the divisional consultation meetings will be presented to the government at a national seminar to help the government and development partners set out strategy to properly implement the law.

MRDI will organise similar consultation meetings in other divisional headquarters to identify the problems and prospects in the implementation process of the act.