International Right to Information Day observed
BSS
GAIBANDHA: International Right to Information Day was observed today in the district as elsewhere in the country with the theme Powering Sustainable Development with Access to Information, reports BSS.
The district administration and Sachetan Nagarik Committee (SNC), district unit, in association with Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) chalked out elaborate programmes to mark the day.
In the morning, a colourful rally led by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Gautam Chandra Pal was brought out from Independence Square that ended in front of Zila Shilpakala Academy after parading different roads of the town.
Later, a discussion was held at Shilpakala auditorium with president of SNC, district chapter, Jahurul Qaiyum in the chair.
DC Gautam Chandra Pal addressed the meeting as the chief guest and Superintendent of Police (SP) Mashrukur Rahman Khaled, Deputy Director (DD) of local government section of DC office M Shafiqul Islam and DD of Department of Agricultural Extension AKM Ruhul Amin were present as special guests.
The meeting was also addressed, among others, by district Information Officer Sabiha Akter Lucky and district trainer on Right to Information (RTI) Act 2009 of Information Commission Sarker M Shahiduzzaman.
Vice-President of district SNC Afroza Begum Lupu presented the keynote paper at the event.
DC Gautam Chandra Pal, in his speech, said the right of every citizen to freedom of expression and conscience, freedom of speech and freedom of the press are guaranteed by Article 39 of the Constitution.
Terming information as power, the DC said free flow of information would establish citizens rights equally in the society.
A large number of people, including district and upazila level officials, social workers, NGO activists, leaders of different right groups, teachers, students and journalists participated in the programems.
