Volume: 2 Issue 9 [September 2019]

Article:Legal and Institutional Mechanism of Transparency: Bangladesh Perspective

Author: Md. Shadat Hossen, Atiqur Rahman

Volume: 2, Issue 9; September-2019 ;

DOI: Nor. Am. Aca. Res. 2019 : 2(9) : 92-112; https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3451502

Abstract: In the modern state mechanism, the concept of ‘transparency’ gets more importance incessantly. Citizens are interested to see accountable and transparent government. A Hidden, ambiguous, unfair technique, in the government activities are caused of disrelish of its citizen. People are interested to know what, why and how government performs and runs. It indicates the consciousness as well as the legal expectation that government all activities are visible and understandable. Bangladesh, as a modern and democratic state also includes right to freedom of thought and conscience and of speech of the citizen as fundamental rights in article 39 of its Constitution. Besides, Article 11 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh guarantees basic human rights including access to information. For ensuring transparency of the government functions, the Constitution has guaranteed the freedom of thought and conscience. Access to information and freedom of expression are closely connected. If information is not available, the freedom of expression will be meaningless. The 1990s marked as era media freedom as granted in the constitution. Despite the freedom, the media face many challenges in performing their functions. After long time in 2009 the government has enacted the right to information Act. Besides the Universal Declaration of Human Rights have recognized freedom of expression and opinion as a Human Rights. For making the declartion mandatory, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by UN General Assembly resolution 22004 (XXI) of 16 December 1966 and became effective on 23rd March 1976. Bangladesh ratified the ICCPR in 2000 and is pleased bound to guarantee access to information to all its citizens. In spite of above legal instrument the government can’t ensure transparency as well as freedom of expression properly. Therefore, this research will highlight the legal and institutional structure of transparency in Bangladesh henceforth an analysis of impoverished transparency caused by some contradictory Acts of the country itself.

Comments

Reader: Very interesting