Information Commission will serve people, not government or individuals: CIC

Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Prof Dr Nahreen Islam Khan on Sunday said the Information Commission will work for the people, not for any government or particular individual, with ensuring citizens’ right to information among its top priority.

She said the commission's initial tasks will be to ensure people's access to information, raise public awareness about its activities and make it easier for citizens to seek information.

Nahreen made the remarks while speaking to journalists after a meeting with Information and Broadcasting Minister Andaleeve Rahman at the Secretariat.

The government on Saturday appointed Nahreen as the CIC and journalists SAM Mahfuzur Rahman and Khan Mohammad Abul Hossain as Information Commissioners.

Responding to questions about the appointment of a woman as the CIC for the first time and the commission’s future activities, Nahreen said gender should not determine how a person performs their responsibilities.

“What matters is the responsibility itself, not gender. The most important thing is to ensure equal priority for everyone in society,” she said.

She noted that though the Information Commission had existed for the past 17 years, it had not been able to carry out any particularly significant work.

The CIC expressed hope that the commission, appointed under a democratic government, will function as an independent body and ensure people's right to information.

“The Information Commission is for the people. We will work for the people, not for any government or any particular individual. We will work for everyone, and our doors will remain open to all people in Bangladesh,” she said.

Information Commissioner Mahfuzur Rahman, who previously served as the speechwriter to Prime Minister, said he has taken on a new responsibility at an independent statutory institution.

It is important to make clear how such an institution should function and serve the public, he said, adding that the right to information belongs to all citizens, not just the media.

Emphasising transparency and accuracy in the flow of information, Mahfuzur Rahman said the commission will seek to promote social welfare, public welfare and the interests of the state through the transparent and responsible dissemination of accurate information.

He said the commission will play an active role in meeting people's expectations regarding access to information and will stand beside citizens in exercising that right.