TIB warns over missing web records

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman has alleged that several important decisions and pieces of information published on official government websites have been removed during the tenure of the interim government.

He made the allegation on Sunday while speaking at a press conference organised by the RTI Forum at the TIB office in Dhaka.

The programme was titled “Immediate Formation of the Information Commission and Necessary Amendments to the Right to Information Act 2009.”

Speaking at the event, Iftekharuzzaman said a number of important government decisions and related information had become unavailable on official websites.

According to him, the responsibility for the removal of such information lies with the
current authorities, and the matter warrants careful review.

He described the move as inconsistent with the principles of transparency and the public’s right to information, adding that access to official information is a fundamental element of accountable governance.

He emphasised that citizens should be able to access state information regardless of whether it reflects positively or negatively on the government.

“People have the right to know information relating to state affairs,” he said.

Calling for a review of the issue, he urged the authorities to reconsider the grounds on which the information had been removed.

When asked to provide examples, Iftekharuzzaman said that certain decisions associated with the Prime Minister’s Office and the Chief Adviser’s Office were among those that were no longer accessible online.

He added that several decisions and related records previously available on government websites had since been taken down.