Staff Reporter :
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed deep concern over the interim government’s lack of any initiative to form the Information Commission and Human Rights Commission, even after nearly a year in office.
The organisation stated that the absence of these two institutions is an unacceptable example of the government’s negligence toward its constitutional responsibilities, creating an embarrassing record for the administration. TIB has called for the immediate formation of both commissions.
TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman in a press statement on Wednesday said, “The formation of the Information Commission and the Human Rights Commission is a vital symbol of the state’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and human rights.
However, despite being in power for almost a year, no effective initiative is visible in this regard.”
“There is no clear explanation for this prolonged delay. Regardless of how ineffective the commissions may have been in the past, leaving them without leadership for almost a year has set an unfortunate precedent and highlights the government’s indifference to its pledges of ensuring free flow of information and protection of human rights,” he added.
“Keeping the commissions leaderless for such a long time is not only regrettable but also contradicts the core mandate of the interim government, which is responsible for state reform,” he added.
“This prolonged vacancy has severely hindered citizens’ access to information and basic opportunities to uphold human rights. It raises the question-does the government intend to block access to information and obstruct justice for victims of human rights violations during its tenure?” he questioned.
Dr. Iftekharuzzaman further stated, “The absence of the Information Commission for nearly a year is not just an administrative failure, but tantamount to undermining the constitutional right to access information.”
“Without the commission, citizens have no recourse to appeal to the highest authority when government information is denied. The interim government’s earlier promises to ensure the free flow of information following the fall of an authoritarian regime have proven to be hollow. This situation is unprecedented not only in Bangladesh but globally.
We therefore strongly demand the immediate formation of the commissions,” he added.
On the issue of the non-existence of the Human Rights Commission since last November, Dr. Zaman commented, “During the tenure of the fallen authoritarian government, the Human Rights Commission had become a paper institution. After the fall of that regime, it was expected that the commission would fulfill its mandate with renewed strength.”
“Unfortunately, the reality is even more disappointing-the country remains without a functioning Human Rights Commission. Despite legal obligations, the prolonged failure to form the commission contradicts the government’s declared intent to ensure human rights,” he said.
“At a time when the United Nations is taking steps to establish a human rights office in Bangladesh, keeping the national Human Rights Commission vacant is a sign of blatant double standards,” he noted.
Finally, TIB urged the immediate formation of both the Information and Human Rights Commissions to uphold the state’s commitment to democracy, good governance, transparency, and human rights.
It also strongly called for legal and institutional reforms to ensure that both commissions operate independently, efficiently, and with public trust.
