In a democratic country “Freedom of information is a fundamental human right.” Inhabitant of a country has the right to have access to information and know everything happening around him. The access to information or freedom of expression is the prerequisite to fulfillment of all other rights. In its very first session 1946, UN enshrined that 'Freedom of information is a fundamental human right.’ The RTI Act was notified in the Bangladesh Gazette on Monday, April 6, 2009. The Act indicates that any citizen can seek or demand information from authority and the authority is bound to provide information based on the demand it receives. The most important part of the efforts is to make the vulnerable section informed of their rights and privileges under this act. Regrettably, the citizens are not aware of this act or any commission formed under this act.
Recently, BDPC has arranged an “Information and Service Fair” in 04 and 05 April 2012, at Kutubdia with the association of MJF. Main endeavors of this fair are- 1) bridging between govt. service providing office and local community 2) Ensure citizen’s access to information and service provided by government. Md. Abdul Qayyum who has appointed as National Project Director CDMP II and Additional Secretary of govt. was the chief guest and had given his valuable speech on fair. He had given the announcement for opening the rite of “Information and Service Fair”. Then special guests of the fair (Ms. Hasina Akter Beauty, Upazila Chairman(in charge), Kutubdia; Mr. M M Mohiuddin Kabir Mahin, UNO, Kutubdia; Mr. Md. Arif Hossain Khan, Program manager, MJF and Mr. Md. Saidur Rahman, Director, BDPC) had given their speech respectively. The whole program was excellently facilitated by Shuvashis Chandra Mahanta (Project Coordinator, BDPC). Total 21 govt. service providing office excluding BDPC stall had took part in the fair to delivering their service to the community people. People from each and every Ward of six Union at Kutubdia had participated in Information and Service Fair. Information can empower poor communities. In this way, People became aware and acquired easy access to information and known about peoples' rights and responsibilities of government. Community people are highly appreciated the fair. Community people have the chance to ask questions to the authority. They would learn and know many techniques and information from the fair. The community people gave thanks to BDPC for organizing such a wonderful program of fair.
Success of the fair is depends on its immediate and long term outcomes. Many decisions have been taken such as increase the allocation of fertilizer and subsidy, exhibition of the agricultural products, give training to make compost fertilizer, to levy a complain box in front of the Agricultural Extension Office. Those are some immediate consequences of the fair. In this way, the right to information of the people is ensured, transparency and accountability in all public, autonomous and statutory organizations and in other private institutions run on government or foreign funding shall increases, corruption of the same shall decreases and good governance of the same shall be established”.
