International Journal of Social Science & Economic Research
Submit Paper

Title:
THE ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT: A CASE OF BANGLADESH

Authors:
Harold Sougato Baroi

|| ||

Harold Sougato Baroi1
Assistant Professor of Public Administration at Rajshahi University, Bangladesh

MLA 8
Baroi, Harold S. "THE ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT: A CASE OF BANGLADESH." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, vol. 3, no. 1, Jan. 2018, pp. 153-170, ijsser.org/more2018.php?id=11. Accessed 2018.
APA
Baroi, H. S. (2018, January). THE ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT: A CASE OF BANGLADESH. Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, 3(1), 153-170. Retrieved from ijsser.org/more2018.php?id=11.
Chicago
Baroi, Harold S. "THE ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT: A CASE OF BANGLADESH." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research 3, no. 1 (January 2018), 153-170. Accessed , 2018. ijsser.org/more2018.php?id=11.

References
[1]. Ackerman, John M and Imra E Sandoval-Ballesteros, 'The Global Explosion of Freedom of Information Laws' (2006) 58(1) Administrative Law Review 85.
[2]. American Convention on Human Rights, opened for signature 22 November 1969, 1144 UNTS 123 (entered into force 18 July 1978).
[3]. Amita Bavishkar, 'Is Knowladge Power?: The Right to information Campaign in India' (Institute of Development Studies 2007)
[4]. Anam, Shaheen, 'How RTI Act 2009 Evolved in Bangladesh ' in Syeed Ahamed and Ashique Nabi (eds), Right to Information Act (RTIA) in Bangladesh: Challenges of Implementation (Right to Information Forum, 2012)
[5]. Annual Report of Information Commission, 2014 http://infocom.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/infocom.portal.gov.bd/annual_reports/7ae409 72_4403_4e2a_b5d1_031fcd7cbd30/Annual%20Report-2014.pdf.
[6]. African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, adopted 27 June 1981, 1520 UNTS 217 (entered into force 21 October 1986).
[7]. Biswarup Sen, Digital Politics and Culture in Contemporary India: The Making of an InfoNation(Routledge, 2016)
[8]. Claude Reyes v. Chile 19/2006, IACTHR Series C 151 (2006); 16 IHRR 863 (2009).
[9]. Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, adopted 25 June 1998, 2161 UNTS 447 (entered into force 30 October 2001)
[10]. David Banisar, Freedom fo Information in the World 2006: A Globa Survey of Access to Government Information Laws (Privacy International, 2006).
[11]. Darch, Colin and Peter G Underwood, Freedom of Information and the Developing World: The Citizen, the State and Models of Openness (Chandos Publishing, 2010)
[12]. Iftekharuzzaman, M, 'Implementing Right to Information in Bangladesh: Opportunities and Challenges' (Paper presented at the International Conference on RTI Implementation: Law, Institutions and Citizens, Dhaka, 21-22 June 2009);
[13]. Iqbal, Sohel, 'Challenges of Implementing the Right to Information Act: Experience of Others and Lessons for Bangladesh' in Syeed Ahamed and Ashique Nabi (eds), Right to Information Act (RTIA) in Bangladesh: Challenges of Implementation (Right to Information Forum, 2012)
[14]. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted 16 December 1966, 999 UNTS 171 (entered into force 23 March 1976), art 19.
[15]. Louise Krabbe Boserup and Jens Peter Christensen, 'An Introduction to Openness and Access to Information ' (Danish Institute for Human Rights 2005)
[16]. European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, opened for signature 4 November 1950, ETS 5 (entered into force 3 September 1953).
[17]. Folscher, Alta, 'Participatory Budgeting in Asia' in Anwar Shah (eds), Participatory Budgeting (World Bank, 2007)
[18]. Florini, A. , 'Introduction: The Battle Over Transparency' in A. Florini (ed), The Right to Know: Transparency for an OpenWorld (Columbia University Press, 2007) vol 3, MRDI, ''Citizens' access to information in South Asia: Diagnostic analysis - Bangladesh Chapter’ ' (Management and Resources Development Initiative, 2013)
[19]. Panday, Pranab, Reforming Urban Governance in Bangladesh: The City Corporation ( Springer, 2017)
[20]. Panday, Pranab Kumar and Golam Rabbani, 'Freedom of Information in Bangladesh: Policy Dynamics, Present State, and Challenges' in Meghna Sabharwal and Evan M Berman (eds),
[21]. Public Administration in South Asia: India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan (Taylor and Francis, 2010).
[22]. Sharma, Pradeep 'Civil Society and Right to Information: a Perspective on India's Experience'(UNDP, 2004)
[23]. Ta'rsasa'g a Szabadsa'g v. Hungary, Application No 37374/05, Merits, 14 April 2009.
[24]. TI, 'Corruption Perception Index' (Transparency International, 2001)
[25]. TI, 'Corruption Perception Index' (Transparency International 2002)
[26]. TI, 'Corruption Perception Index' (Transparency International 2003)
[27]. TI, 'Corruption Perception Index' (Transparency International 2004)
[28]. TI, 'Corruption Perception Index ' (Transparency International 2005)
[29]. The Right to Infromation Act 2009, p. 7140.
[30]. http://infocom.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/infocom.portal.gov.bd/law/ec81a874_3b89_4 98c_92b5_be30da12af3c/Right%20to%20Information.pdf.
[31]. Wampler, Brian, 'A Guide to Participatory Budgeting' in Anwar Shah (eds), Participatory Budgeting (World Bank, 2007)

Abstract:
The Right to Information Act ('The RTI Act') of Bangladesh has been introduced in 2009. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), particularly the NGOs have played an instrumental role in introducing the Law. This paper suggests that the core objective of the RTI Act which is to ensure people's access to government information has not been accomplished. One of the main reasons behind its poor performance is lack of awareness about the law. The paper argues that the CSOs, especially the NGOs have not played its desired role in creating awareness and motivating citizens to use the law. The paper suggests NGOs can play a more engaging role in the implementation of the RTI Act and to achieve that some of the recently adopted approaches can make a significant contribution.

IJSSER is Member of