RAJSHAHI, Feb 20, 2021 (BSS)- Speakers at a discussion substantial and
sustainable improvement of access to information (a2i) have become crucial
for improving the living and livelihood condition of rural women.
Terming the access to information as vital they viewed the full-length
implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) act with unhindered flow of
information by all government and non-government organisation’s concerned
needs to be ensured for expediting development and ensuring good governance
everywhere in the society.
The discussants came up with the observation while addressing the inception
meeting of a project titled “Advancing Women’s Right of Access to Information
in Bangladesh” at the conference hall of Deputy Commissioner here today.
Association for Community Development (ACD) has started implementing the
project in some parts of the district in association with the Carter Centre
with financial support of USAID.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Shariful Haque addressed the meeting as the
chief guest with ACD Executive Director Salima Sarwar in the chair while
Director Programme Sharmin Subrina welcomed the participants.
Civil Surgeon Dr Quiume Talukder, District Education Officer Nasir Uddin,
District Information Officer Farhad Hossain, Ward Councilor of Rajshahi City
Corporation (RCC) Muhammad Kamruzzaman, Programme Officer of the Carter
Centre Rukhsana Afroz and ACD Programme Officer Krishna Rani Biswash also
spoke.
Coordinator of the project Mostofa Kamal gave an overview of the project
along with its aims, objectives and implementation strategy during his
multimedia presentation.
He said the project is being implemented in the Ward Number 5 and 6 of
Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) and Gogram and Matikata Unions of Godagari
upazila and Chanduria and Saranjai Unions of Tanore upazila of Rajshahi
district with the main thrust of improving access to information for women in
Bangladesh.
Around 200 marginalized women including 180 female youths will be benefited
directly while 1,900 other women and youth indirectly with intervention of
the project, Kamal added.
As a whole, the project is intended to promote women’s movement for justice
and human rights of women with information through raising awareness of the
RTI and supporting community leaders to increasingly use the law to transform
lives.
Taking part in the open discussion, the speakers observed that successful
implementation of the RTI act can play a vital role towards supplementing the
government efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by
2030.
SDGs basic objective to achieve a better and more sustainable future for
all and its key commitment is “no one will be left behind”.
The meeting was told that the present government under the dynamic
leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has adopted diversified steps to
attain the goals within stipulated time.
So, implementation of RTI act has become indispensable for the sake of
establishing good governance in the society and enhancing transparency and
accountability in all tiers of public services.