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ACCESS to information is a fundamental human right. Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations General Assembly guaranteed this human right to establish a world of information. Despite the fact that the country's constitution guarantees this right, political parties that had gone to power did not ensure it.
So far, people of this country were not well aware of this right. But in recent days, they have seen how its absence affects their daily lives. Lack of information is a reason for the failure of the rural people to enjoy basic needs like food, shelter, health etc. For urban people, it is also vital to enjoy security and safety. Trade and business of today will be badly affected if there is lack of information. Globalisation and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) have taken the matter of right to information beyond national borders.
Still, this right to information is not given to the people of the country. As a result, the media is not able to play its proper role, as the public information is often kept hidden for political reasons. There are many laws that prohibit the disclosure of official documents and information. Most of these laws including Official Secrets Act and, Evidence Act etc., were enacted during the colonial period and were to be used for protecting colonial interests.
In the present context, there is no need for such kinds of laws due to rapid development in information technology, for example, the Internet and the satellite television. And this is the main reason that we have often to wade through mutually conflicting interpretation of events once something of significance for the people in society. So, the government should repeal all these laws that block the right to information.
Jobbar Miah
Tikatuli, Dhaka
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