Information Commission Formation Underway

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has undertaken steps to reconstitute the Information Commission, with an official notification expected to be issued imminently.

In a press release issued on Saturday, 26 July, the ministry stated that, under the Right to Information Act, 2009, the formation of the commission is now underway. The process involves appointing one Chief Information Commissioner and two Information Commissioners, with at least one of the commissioners being a woman.

Structure of the New Information Commission

The move comes after the commission remained vacant for nearly a year, prompting widespread concern from civil society organisations and governance advocates.

Concerns Raised by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB)

In a statement dated 23 July, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) expressed serious concern over the prolonged vacancy of the Information Commission and the Human Rights Commission, calling it a glaring example of governmental negligence in fulfilling constitutional and institutional responsibilities.

TIB stated that the inactivity of such crucial state bodies has had a detrimental impact on democratic governance and transparency. They described the situation as embarrassing for the nation and urged the government to immediately reconstitute both commissions.

“Leaving these two critical institutions defunct for such an extended period reflects poorly on the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability,” TIB noted in their press release.

Summary of Developments

The reconstitution of the Information Commission is seen as a vital step toward strengthening citizens’ right to information and upholding democratic values. With formal notification expected soon, all eyes are on the government to ensure the commission is restored with transparency, gender balance, and urgency.