Bangladesh
Draft of FOI Act in parliamentPosted Apr 11 2008
Bangladesh’s first Freedom of Information Act was drafted March 11 and is in the early stages of becoming a bill in the country’s parliament. “The Right to Information Ordinance” identifies 27 articles required for the freedom of information, including an information commission that will have the power to fine and punish if information is not provided within time constraints.
The ordinance draft was posted online, allowing the general public to provide feedback.
The ordinance lists several exemptions to providing information, including state security, dignity, foreign policy, defense, commerce or trade interests, income tax and disclosures counter to public interest.
Some, including The Daily Star, say the number of exemptions is too high. Changes to the draft have been suggested before passing the bill to parliament.
Bangladesh is one of 12 British Commonwealth countries without freedom of information laws.
Democratic governments have been in place since 1991, but some laws, such as the Official Secrets Act of 1923, still limits the free dispersion of information.
The ordinance was drafted by an eight-member committee headed by Kamal Uddin Ahmed, the joint secretary to the development wing of the Information Ministry, and also included a representative from the non-governmental organization Manusher Jonno Foundation.