BELA holds RTI awareness training in Sylhet
A day-long training programme was held in Sylhet with the participation of stakeholders to raise awareness about the Right to Information (RTI) Act and ensure its effective implementation.
The Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) organised the workshop, titled ‘Stakeholder Training on the Right to Information’, at the auditorium of a hotel in Dhopadighipara in the city on Thursday.
The speakers at the programme emphasised that the Right to Information Act not only ensures citizens’ right to access information but also serves as a powerful tool for establishing transparency, accountability and good governance in society. They said coordinated and sincere initiatives at all levels of government and the private sector are essential for the successful implementation of the law.
The workshop discussed in detail the Right to Information Act, 2009, the role of the designated authorities, the information request process and the importance of the law in both national and international contexts.
The speakers also shared their views on the existing challenges in implementing the law and suggested ways to overcome them.
The main training session was conducted by Advocate Shah Shaheda Akhtar, Sylhet Divisional Coordinator of BELA. The programme began with a welcome speech by Divisional Officer Nirupam Dey.
Advocate Akhtar highlighted BELA’s long-standing field experience in collecting information on issues related to the environment, land, water and public interest.
Through practical examples, she explained how ordinary citizens can apply for information properly, appeal if information is not provided within the stipulated time, and file complaints with the Information Commission when necessary.
Representatives of various organisations in the Sylhet region, media personnel, NGO representatives, human rights activists, and teachers from local schools and colleges actively participated in the training.
Among those who spoke during the open discussion were senior lawyer Delwar Hossain Dilu; Advocate Al Aslam Mumin; Bangladesh Mahila Parishad President Rawshan Ara Mukul; Abdul Malek of RIDE Bangladesh; RWDO Project Coordinator Jahedul Islam Rashid; Advocate Asma Ara Begum of BLAST; and ECDO Programme Coordinators Momtahinur Rahman Chowdhury and Tanzina Begum.
Representing human rights organisations and the media were Bangladesh Human Rights Journalists Commission President Faisal Ahmed Bablu, The New Nation Sylhet Bureau Chief S.A. Shofiee, Bangla TV Bureau Chief Kaiyum Ullash, ATN News Sylhet Correspondent Kamrul Islam Mahi, and Imran Ahmed.
In the closing remarks, the speakers expressed hope that the knowledge gained through the training would help facilitate people’s access to information at the grassroots level.
