The Information Commission organized a workshop entitled “the role of media in implementing RTI Act more comprehensively” in association with the department of Media and Mass Communication AIUB at seminar room at Information Commission office on 16thApril 2015. The main purpose of this workshop was to motivate the MMC students of AIUB and to introduce them with the usage and implication of RTI Act in everyday life to make the government accountable and transparent which help to reduce corruption in every sector in Bangladesh. The seminar was duly commenced by Ambassador (Rtd.) Mohammed Farooq, Chief Information Commissioner, Information Commission. Ms Farhana Afroz, Head department of Media and Mass Communication, AIUB discussed a few essential points on the importance of attending and the possibilities that could be achieved from a workshop of its kind.
The Government of Bangladesh enacted the RTI Act in the first session of the 9th Parliament in 2009 has moved forward over the last five years. The Chief Information Commissioner, Ambassador (Rtd.)Mohammed Farooq identified few areas where steps could be undertaken to make the process more productive, not only in the creation of greater transparency, awareness and higher demand for information but also better supply of the required information.
The Information commissioner Mr. Nepal Chandra Sarker said that the Information Commission's have initiated two major steps to make RTI popular among citizens; first, the message that citizens now have the right to seek information has been spread through mobile phone (more than 250 million free SMS messages were transmitted in this regard by Grameen Phone and Robi under their corporate social responsibility (CSR) scheme; secondly, the people could learn more about RTI by visiting the Information Commission web portal, 'www.infocom.gov.bd'.
The second session provided the basic concept on the usage and implication of RTI Act in everyday life. The third and final session was spent on encouraging students and motivating them to realize the significance of studying Freedom and Information Course. Students of MMC department made 15 posters on the role of media in promoting RTI act in Bangladesh and handed over these posters to Information Commissioner.
The workshop was concluded by Ms Farhana Afroz , Head, , Dept. of MMC by showing her gratitude towards Information Commissioner by giving him a souvenir from AIUB. A Crest was also given by Mr. Nepal Chandra Sarker from Information Commission to Ms Farhana Afroz.
MMC students stated that this type of program should be organized more often at AIUB, in order to maximize their knowledge regarding RTI act. The Department of Media and Mass Communication AIUB humbly acknowledges the generous support from the Information Commission management to make this event successful.
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