Only 10.5% of Bangladeshis are aware of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, and just 8.1% of those who know about the law understand how to request information, according to a new survey.
The findings were presented in the Bangladesh Right to Information Survey 2026, conducted by the Bangladesh Right to Information Forum and released today (29 September) at a conference at the Daily Star Centre in Dhaka to mark International Right to Know Day.
Covering the period from 2019 to 2025, the survey examined citizens’ information needs, awareness of the law, experiences in seeking information and the role of designated information-providing authorities.
Awareness of the RTI Act rose from 7.7% in 2019 to 10.5% in 2025. However, nearly 90% of citizens remain unaware of the law.
Awareness is higher in urban areas, at 12.4%, than in rural areas, at 9.7%. The rate rises to around 18.5% among young people and 38% among graduates.
Among those aware of the law, only 8.1% know the procedure for obtaining information, while 9.3% know the statutory time limits for receiving it.
Knowledge of the appeals process is also limited. Only 19.9% know they can approach the Information Commission if their requests are denied, while 46% believe the matter can be resolved through the Union Parishad chairman.
Despite low awareness, 91% of respondents expressed trust in the RTI Act. However, 72.4% believe the law does not provide a real opportunity to obtain necessary information, up from 68.3% in 2019.
Fear of retaliation or harassment remains a major barrier to seeking information, the survey found.
Dr Ananya Raihan, chairperson of iSocial, said demand for information exists, but fear of repercussions discourages many people from using the law.
Marginalised communities also face discrimination and limited access to information, often having to rely on intermediaries, she said.
Gaps in officials’ knowledge
The survey found significant gaps in the knowledge of government officials responsible for providing information. Around 65% lack sufficient knowledge of how to implement the law, while only 49% of designated officers have received training.
Moreover, 64% of designated officers have never received a single request for information.
Raihan said government officials generally know about the RTI Act but lack a detailed and integrated understanding of its provisions and implementation.
The prolonged absence of an operational Information Commission has further complicated efforts to seek remedies when information requests are denied.
Hasibur Rahman, executive director of MRDI, said more than 850 hearings remain pending before the commission.
Once a new commission is formed, it should take strategic measures to clear the backlog quickly and ensure new cases are resolved within fixed timeframes, he said.
Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation, said public interest in seeking information had not grown as much as expected since the RTI Act was enacted in 2009.
Although awareness has improved since 2019, progress remains insufficient, she said.
Shaheen said the finding that 64% of designated officers had never received an information request was particularly concerning. The law has also not been used sufficiently to seek information on major public-interest issues, including corruption, plunder, money laundering and inflated project costs, she added.
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