The chief information commissioner and two information commissioners in Bangladesh have been absent since September 2024, following the political transition after the July uprising. This absence has significantly impacted the effectiveness of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2009, which is a crucial tool for promoting transparency and accountability. The prolonged vacancies have raised concerns about the commitment to transparency and accountability, as well as the delay in filling essential positions needed to enforce the RTI Act.
It has been almost two years since the positions became vacant, with neither the interim government nor the newly elected government completing the appointments. Despite the current government forming a selection committee to appoint the commissioners in July, the delay in this process raises questions about the reasons behind the prolonged vacancy. The absence of leadership in implementing the RTI Act undermines citizens’ ability to hold public authorities accountable and erodes transparency over time.
The impact of the RTI Act and the Information Commission can be seen in various instances, such as the BGMEA Tower case in Dhaka and local environmental concerns in Nilphamari. These examples highlight how access to information through RTI applications has led to accountability, improved public services, and empowered citizens to participate in governance. The transformative power of transparency demonstrated by these cases emphasizes the importance of a functioning Information Commission in upholding citizens’ rights and ensuring accountability.
In a country like Bangladesh where citizen engagement with public institutions is limited, the RTI Act provides a lawful avenue for individuals to seek information, demand better services, and hold authorities accountable. However, without a functional Information Commission, the enforcement of the law is weakened, leaving citizens without a means of redress for non-compliance. Restoring the Information Commission is crucial for strengthening transparency, accountability, and democratic governance in Bangladesh.