Enactment of Right to Information Act in Bangladesh

Examining Governance Factor

Abstract

In Bangladesh, the Right to Information Act, 2009 was enacted in National Assembly on 29 March, 2009, and came into effect on 1 July the same year. The right to information has been recognized as an important element of human rights by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,1948. This right also symbolizes Article 19(2) of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, 1966, of which Bangladesh was a signatory. There was no law specifically recognizing people’s right to information until the enactment of the Law in 2009. On the contrary, to the spirit of this law the Office Secrets Act, 1923 existed, expanding the tentacles with blanket coverage, depriving people’s right and access to information (Rahman, 2006).