RAJSHAHI: Speakers at an orientation underlined the need for making all the government officials familiarized with  Right to Information (RTI) Act so that the public in general can derive total benefits of the law, reports BSS. They viewed that full-length implementation of the law could be the effective means of ensuring transparency and accountability in field level public services. So, the district level designated officials should take the responsibility of RTI Act implementation successfully.
Committee of Conscious Citizens (CCC), a sister organisation of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), organised the orientation styled ‘Application of RTI Law-2009’ held at Master Chef restaurant in Rajshahi city yesterday. District level government officials for the law attended the meeting. Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Mejbah Uddin Chowdhury addressed the discussion as chief guest while Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension Hazrat Ali, District Fisheries Officer Golam Rabbani, District Livestock Officer Dr Mijanur Rahman and District Primary Education Officer Abul Kashem spoke as special guests. CCC Vice-president moderated the discussion.
In his concept paper presentation, TIB Area Manager Mahmud Ali gave an overview of the law and its implementation aspects. Chief Guest Mejbah Uddin Chowdhury said full-length implementation of the RTI Act  has become indispensable for empowering the public in general coupled with making all the service delivery activities transparent and accountable. Terming the RTI Act as the key to development of the mass people he said the act will facilitate people to become empowered through its successful implementation. He also said the act will supplement the effort of establishing good governance coupled with removing corruption through ensuring transparency and accountability every spheres of life. Large-scale implementation of the law could be the effective means of ensuring good governance and institutionalisation of democracy. Ensuring open and timely access to information will help to stop corruption, improve governance and ensure accountability and transparency. Mejbah Chowdhury observed that the designated officials of the information- giving government institutions have a vital role to play in this regard.