RTI Forum urges merit-based appointments to Information Commission

The RTI Forum has urged the selection committee for the Information Commission to prioritise competence, experience, impartiality and integrity over political or bureaucratic influence when recommending candidates for the posts of chief information commissioner and information commissioners.

The call came in a letter sent to Justice Farah Mahbub of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, who chairs the recently reconstituted five-member selection committee, and its other members responsible for recommending candidates for the chief information commissioner and two information commissioner posts, according to a press release issued today (6 August).

The selection committee, constituted under Section 14(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2009, recently invited applications from qualified candidates for the three positions.

Welcoming the move, the RTI Forum said the recruitment process offered an opportunity to establish an independent and effective Information Commission that meets long-standing public expectations.

The forum said the effective implementation of the Right to Information Act depends on a competent, impartial and citizen-oriented Information Commission. 

It urged the committee to assess candidates not only on their qualifications but also on their ability to discharge the responsibilities set out in the law independently and without political or bureaucratic influence.

According to the forum, appointing qualified and independent commissioners would help ensure the free flow of information and better protect citizens’ right to information by placing public interest at the centre of decision-making.

Describing the Right to Information Act as a key instrument for protecting freedom of expression, strengthening citizen participation in governance, promoting transparency and accountability, reducing corruption and safeguarding fundamental rights, the forum said the law had yet to achieve its full potential.

It alleged that previous appointments had often been influenced by partisan political considerations and bureaucratic interests, undermining the effectiveness of the Information Commission.

The forum expressed hope that the current selection committee would break with that practice by recommending candidates based on merit, integrity and independence.

The statement was issued by RTI Forum Convener Shaheen Anam on behalf of the platform’s core group, which includes representatives from civil society organisations such as SHUJAN, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), COAST Trust, Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS), Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC), Nagorik Uddyog, BLAST, Rupantar, Media Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) and Research Initiatives, Bangladesh (RIB), among others.