‘Unwillingness of the people to question national policies has now become one of the major obstacles to the execution of RTI act in our country’- noted by Mr. Syeed Ahamed, CEO, IID in his keynote speech at the seminar titled ‘People’s Participation in Realizing RTI’ organized by RTI Forum Members in celebration of RTK Day 27th September, 2012. Right to Know Day. He also revealed that ongoing RTI campaigns prioritize ensuring transparency but fails to acknowledge that the implementation of RTI Act faces a setback unless people actually demand information to improve livelihoods.
Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman presided over the seminar.
Khushi Kabir, Executive Director of Nijera Kori, underscored the need to change the mindset of officials concerned as they still think that their power and status would go away once they provide information.
Information Commissioner, Prof Sadeka Halim, said the act’s implementation was a big challenge since a majority of our population is illiterate and only 0.4 percent has internet access. She also noted that lack of awareness and an age-old culture that refuses information dissemination are primary obstacles to the implementation of the act.