Ministry to start work on CSA amendment soon: Law adviser

The government will start the work of amending the Cyber Security Act (CSA) soon, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul said today (29 September).

"The Cyber Security Act needs reform. Action will be taken soon. I will work on this from my ministry," he said at a discussion titled "Right to Information: The Supporting Role of NGOs in Establishing Transparency and Accountable Good Governance".

The Right to Information (RTI) Forum and the Foundation for Human Rights at the Bureau of NGO Affairs jointly organised the programme.

Asif Nazrul further said, "We have a lack of awareness about the right to information. This right is not like any other right - all rights would be worthless without the right to information. This right is connected to every other right.

"If the law, justice and governance divisions of the country are not in order, then the Information Commission or the Human Rights Commission will not be functional effectively." 

He also said those who advocate for the right to information must also speak out about the importance of free and fair elections, while raising their voices against enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), expressed dissatisfaction with the role of the Information Commission and proposed its reform based on the views of all stakeholders.

Demanding reforms to the Information Commission, he said, "It is being run by partisan people which is not acceptable."

He further noted that people often don't seek information, because it's inaccessible when needed. Rather, so-called security agencies frequently violated people's rights for seeking information. So, the Right to Information Act also needs a lot of changes.

Badiul Alam Majumdar, head of the electoral reform commission, said citizens are the true owners of the state, and they should have access to sensitive information. It is crucial for citizens to be proactive and demand such information.

"Steps must be taken to ensure that citizens can also access information about political parties. Without transparency within political parties, the right to free information cannot be fully realised," he added.

Shaheen Anam, convener of the Right to Information Forum, said as an independent organisation, the Information Commission has so far not been able to play a significant role in holding governments and democratic institutions to account.