The RTI Forum has urged that competence, impartiality, and a commitment to the public interest be made the highest priorities in the appointment of the chief information commissioner and two information commissioners.
The call was made in a letter addressed to Justice Farah Mahbub of the Appellate Division, who serves as the chair of the recently reconstituted five-member Selection Committee, read a press release issued on Thursday.
The letter was also sent to all members of the committee tasked with recommending candidates for these vital roles.
The Selection Committee, constituted under Section 14(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2009, recently invited applications from qualified and interested candidates.
The RTI Forum welcomed this move, stating that the process presents a significant opportunity to finally establish an independent and effective Information Commission that meets long-standing public expectations.
The forum emphasised that the effective implementation of the RTI Act is essential for safeguarding freedom of expression, strengthening governance, promoting transparency, and reducing corruption.
It noted, however, that the Act has previously failed to reach its full potential due to appointments influenced by partisan political considerations and bureaucratic interests.
The group expressed hope that the current committee would end this practice by selecting candidates based on their ability to perform duties independently and free from all forms of influence.
According to the forum, the selection process must prioritise candidates who demonstrate objectivity and a citizen-oriented approach to facilitate the free flow of information.
The call was issued by Shaheen Anam, Convener of the RTI Forum, on behalf of its core group members.
These members include Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, founding secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SHUJAN); Dr Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB); Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, executive director of COAST Trust; Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, executive director of the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS); AHM Bazlur Rahman, chief executive officer of the Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC); Zakir Hossain, chief executive of Nagorik Uddyog; Dr Ananya Raihan, chairperson of iSocial; Barrister Sara Hossain, honorary executive director of the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST); Rafiqul Islam Khokon, executive director of Rupantar; Hasibur Rahman, executive director of the Media Resources Development Initiative (MRDI); Ruhi Naz, deputy director of Research Initiatives, Bangladesh (RIB); and Hamidul Islam Hillol, project manager of the Tobacco Tax Project at the Bureau of Economic Research, University of Dhaka.
