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Today's knowledge based world is now resonating with the call for meaningful democracy backed by transparency and accountability in the state engine and people’s right of access to information has gained a great importance. In a modern democratic state, the right to information, more popularly described as the ‘right to know,’ is an indispensable prerequisite. 

                                  

There is no denying the fact that the notion of freedom of thought, of conscience, of speech and rule of law become worthless if the people are deprived of access to information. There appears to have been a universal recognition of the demand and necessity for the establishment of people’s right of access to information. The experience in other countries suggests that this scenario can be changed by empowering people with right to information or freedom of information. 

Howover, the basic object of the Right to Information Act, 2009 of Bangladesh is to empower the citizens by promoting transparency and accountability in the working of the public, autonomous and statutory organizations and other private organizations constituted or run by the government or foreign financing with the ultimate aim of decreasing corruption and establishing good governance in our democratic society in real sense.

An informed citizenry will be better equipped to keep necessary vigil over the instruments of government and make the government more accountable to the governed. The Act has created a practical regime through which the citizens of the country may have access to information under the control of public and other authorities. 

Of any existing law- (a) the provisions of providing information shall not be affected by the provisions of this Act; and (b) the provisions of creating impediment in providing information shall be superseded by the provisions of this Act if they become conflicting with the provisions of this Act. (N.B Right to Information Act, 2009- Section 3)

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RTI Act in the SAARC Countries

Among the SAARC Countries, Pakistan was the first to issue an ordinance in 2002 namely “Freedom of Information Ordinance, 2002”. But the country failed to assert and implement the Act due to various national and administrative complications.

Similarly, SAARC country Sri Lanka, being subjected to their prolonged civil war, could not compile any law regarding the information right. On the other hand, Nepal has issued the RTI Act in 2007 and has granted the decision of including the right to information as a part of the constitutionally defined fundamental rights.

Correspondingly, Bhutan, in spite of initiating activities to establish right to information, has not been able to enact the law so far. Same is in Maldives where RTI Act has not been issued yet. 

In addition, Afghanistan has initiated establishing this law in the midst of emergency situation. India, being one of the SAARC countries, issued the RTI Ordinance in 2002.

Later on, after observing the problems of the RTI Ordinance, 2002, the country enacted an amended the Right to Information Act in 2005.

Bangladesh, by enacting the Right to Information Act, 2009 unanimously in the very first assembly of the 9th National Parliament, has achieved appreciation from the international entities. Besides, the civil societies, human rights workers, print and electronic media, journalists of the country and many more have highly praised and welcomed this Act.

Fundamental Human Rights by Article-39 of the Constitution

Freedom of thought, conscience and speech are identified as the significant fundamental human rights by article 39 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. 

Having considered the right to information as the precondition of ensuring civil liberties, the Government of Bangladesh enacted the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2009. The foremost aim and objective of this Act is to reduce corruption and ensure good governance, transparency and accountability in all public and private organizations. 

The government, in order to facilitate the rapid implementation of the RTI Act, established the Information Commission and appointed all necessary officials soon after issuing the Act. Such enthusiastic and valiant endeavor of the government was highly appreciated both in home and abroad, hence boosted the image of the country.

However, the responsibility of implementing the RTI Act, though largely lies on the Information Commission, the other influential institutions of the society e.g. private organizations, corporate offices, print and electronic media, public representatives, politicians and the general people are responsible to assist in the implementation of this Act as well.

The Information Commission, as like the past years, has taken initiative to publish an annual report this year, which is also an obligation of the Commission by Section 30 of the RTI Act. Situation and progress of the RTI Act implementation would be imparted to the nation through submitting this report to the Honorable President of Bangladesh.

According to the RTI Act, it is obligatory to appoint a Designated Officer in every government and non-government organization who would provide the sought information to the applicants following the regulations and exceptions of the law in exchange of the determined fee. If the Designated Officer fails to provide information within 20 (twenty) working days from receiving the request, the applicant can forward the appeal to the Appellate Authority, and failing to obtain information from there would allow the person to file a complaint to the Information Commission.

The Commission therefore will imply the authority of the Civil Court to summon the involved parties and resolve the issue through conducting hearing process and other formalities. However, it is important for every organization to preserve all necessary information in order to provide them to the applicants when sought and to publish and present their activities pro-actively to keep people informed and updated.

The Right to Information Act 2009 is special due to some reasons. The RTI Act of Bangladesh has bestowed the authority to the Information Commission to summon any individual to the Commission and to order presenting all necessary oral or written evidences to the complainant or the respondent. If found guilty, the Commission can fine any officer; can suggest the concerned management to take departmental action and if applicable, can order to compensate the complainant.

After its establishment, the Information Commission took the endeavor to issue some regulations like the ‘Right to Information (obtaining information) Regulations, 2009’ and the amendment of the ‘Right to Information (obtaining information) Regulations, 2009’. Afterward, the Commission provided necessary guideline in issuing the ‘Right to Information (information preservation and management) Regulations, 2010’ which included categorizing and indexing system to preserve and manage information, and the ‘Right to Information (publishing and distributing information) Regulations, 2010’ etc.

Background of Right To Information

Freedom of thought, conscience and speech are identified as the significant fundamental human rights by article 39 of the Constitution of the People‟s Republic of Bangladesh. The right to obtain information is an integral part of civil liberties.

It is recognized as one of the important elements of empowering human, which is obligatory to enhance transparency and accountability in government, statuary and constitutional organizations as well as private institutions run by government or foreign funding.

It is believed that proper implementation of the RTI Act would reduce corruption and establish good governance. From this observation and belief, the government of the People‟s Republic of Bangladesh has enacted the Right to Information Act (RTI) in 2009, established the Information Commission as the law implementing authority and appointed all necessary officials.

Such enthusiastic and valiant endeavor of the government was highly appreciated both in home and abroad, hence boosted the image of the country. However, the responsibility of implementing the RTI Act, though largely lies on the Information Commission, the non-governmental organizations and the general people are responsible as well to assist in the implementation of this Act. People should learn this law and its applications to enjoy its benefits, therefore should come forward to ease the path of their empowerment.

Though only three years have been passed since the establishment of the Information Commission, the history of the right to information movement is quite long. In order to strengthen the democratic system, the Press Council recommended enacting the RTI Act in 1983.

In 2002, the Law Commission decided promulgating the RTI Act and in continuation, submitted a draft outline to the government in 2003. At a time, the civil societies, representatives of NGOs, print and electronic media, prosecutors, politicians, educationists and many others raised their voice and prepared a platform in favour of the RTI Act. Followed by this movement, the RTI Ordinance was issued in 20th October, 2008 after executing all relevant formalities. 

The present Government, in pursuing their political commitment, passed the Right to Information Act, 2009 in the first assembly of the 9th National Parliament and the Act was published as an Official Gazette on 6^th April, 2009.

What is Information according to RTI Act?

What is Information? Information is any material in any form.

It includes any memo, book, design, map, contract, data, log book, order, notification, document, sample, letter, report, accounts, project proposal, photograph, audio, video, drawing, painting, film, any instrument done through electronic process, machine readable record, and any other documentary material regardless of its physical form or characteristics, and any copy thereof in relation to the constitution, structure and official activities of any authority. Provided that it shall not include note-sheets or copies of note-sheets.

“Authority” means-

1. any organization constituted in accordance with the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh;

                                  

2. and ministry, division or office established under the Rules of Business made under article 55(6) of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh;

3. any statutory body or institution established by or under any Act;

4. any private organisation or institution run by government financing or with aid in grant from the government fund;

5. any private organisation or institution run by foreign aid in grant;

6. any organisation or institution that undertakes public functions in accordance with any contract made on behalf of the Government or made with any public organisation or institution;

7. or any organisation or institution as may be notified in the official Gazette from time to time by the Government.

“Information Providing Unit” means head office, divisional office, regional office, district office or upazila office of any department, directorate or office attached to or under any ministry, division or office of the Government; head office, divisional office, regional office, district office or upazila office of an authority.

How to make a request for Right To information?

You must submit an application to the concerned Designated Officer (DO) of the concerned authority directly.

All information requests must be in writing (this includes e-mail) and provide the applicant’s name, address and other particulars for a response in prescribed format as mentioned in the Rules.


Describe the information sought for as correctly and clearly as possible.


You can express a reasonable preference for the mode you wish the information to be supplied, for example, making inspection, having copy, taking note or any other approved mode like e-mail.


For obtaining information you must pay fees as determined by the DO as prescribed in the Rules.

Publication of or providing with certain types of information not mandatory.—Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provisions of this Act, no authority shall be bound to provide with the following information, namely—

(a) any such information that may, if disclosed, cause a threat to the security, integrity and sovereignty of Bangladesh;

(b) any such information relating to any aspect of foreign policy that may affect the existing relationship with any foreign country or international organisation or any regional alliance or organization;

(c) any secret information received from a foreign government;

(d) any information relating to inherent secrets of commercial or business nature, copyright or intellectual property right that may, if published, affect the intellectual property right of a third party.

(e) any of the following information that may, if disclosed, be gainful or damaging to any particular individual or organization, namely :-

(i) any advance information about income tax, customs, VAT and law relating to excise duty, budget or change in the tax rate;

(ii) any advance information about changes relating to exchange rate and interest rate;

(iii) any advance information about the management and supervision of the financial institutions including banks;

(f) any such information that may, if disclosed, obstruct the enforcement of law or incite any offence;

(g) any such information that may, if disclosed, endanger the security of public or impede the due judicial process of a pending case;

(h) any such information that may, if disclosed, offend the privacy of the personal life of an individual;

(i) any such information that may, if disclosed, endanger the life or physical safety of any person;

(j) any such information given in confidence to any law enforcement agency by a person;

(k) any matter pending before any court of law and which has been expressly forbidden to be published by any court of law or tribunal or the disclosure of which may constitute contempt of court;

(l) any such information that may, if disclosed, impede the process of investigation;

(m) any such information that may, if disclosed, affect any investigation process of offence and the arrest and prosecution of offender;

(n) any such information which is, according to law, liable to be published only for a certain period of time;

(o) any such information that is generated through technical or scientific experiment, and is expedient to keep secret for strategic or commercial reasons;

(p) any such information pertaining to a purchase process before it is complete or a decision has been taken about it;

(q) any such information that may be prejudicial to the special rights of the House of the Nation;

(r) any secret information of a person which is protected by law;

(s) any advance, information relating to question papers of an examination or marks given;

(t) any document including summaries to be placed before the Cabinet or, as the case may be, before the Council of Advisers and information relating to discussions and decisions of such meetings Provided that after taking any decision by the Cabinet or, as the case may be, by the Council of Advisors, the reasons of taking such decisions and the basis upon which the decisions are taken may be disclosed : Provided further that the concern authority shall take prior approval from Information Commission for withholding information under this section.

Designated Officer's (DO) Duty for providing Information.

The Designated Officer (DO) shall render reasonable assistance to the persons seeking information. If a person is unable to make a request in writing, he may seek the help of the DO to write his application.

Where a decision is taken to give access to a sensorial disabled person to any document, the Designated Officer, shall provide such assistance to enable access to information, including providing such assistance to the person as may be appropriate for the inspection.

According to the RTI Act, every authority is legally bound to appoint a Designated Officer for each of the information providing units at central, divisional, district and Upazila at the lowest level in every government and non-government organization who would provide the sought information to the applicants following the regulations and exceptions of the law in exchange of the determined fee. 

If the Designated Officer fails to provide information within 20 (twenty) or 30 (Thirty) working days from receiving the request, the applicant can forward the appeal to the Appellate Authority, and failing to obtain information from there would allow the person to file a complaint to the Information Commission. 

It is important for every organization to preserve all necessary information in order to provide them to the applicants when sought and to publish and resent their activities pro-actively to keep people informed and updated. 

Appeal Procedure for having RTI

If an applicant is not supplied information within the prescribed time of 20 or 30 days or 24 hours, as the case may be, or is not satisfied with the information furnished to him or is aggrieved by a decision of the Designated Officer, may prefer an appeal to the Appellate Authority who is the administrative head of its immediate superior office within a period or thirty days from the date on which the time limit expires or receipt of such a decision.

The appellate authority of the public authority shall dispose of the appeal within a period of fifteen days after hearing the concerned parties to the appeal petition.

Complaints

There is no prescribed form for submission of complaint to the Information Commission.  The application can be made on plain paper any time within 30 days from the date of expiry of the prescribed time limit for giving requested information.

The Commission is also empowered to receive any complaint after the expiry of the prescribed time limit if it deems the grounds shown in the petition of complaint to be reasonable.

The application should, however, have the name and complete postal address along with e-mail address and mobile phone number (if any) of the complainant. Even in cases where the information is sought electronically, the application should contain name and postal address of the applicant.

If any person is unable to submit a request to any Designated Officer either by reason that such an officer has not been appointed by the concerned public authority; or the Designated Officer has refused to accept his or her application or he has been refused access to any information requested by him under the RTI Act; or he has not been given a response to a request for information within the time limit specified in the Act; or he has been required to pay an amount of fee which he considers unreasonable; or he believes that he has been given incomplete, misleading or false information, he can make a complaint to the Information Commission.

Powers and Fuctions of Information Commission

The Information Commission (IC) enforces and oversees the Right to Information Act, Rules and Regulations made under the Act. 

The  Information Commission's main functions are educating and influencing. It promote good practice and give information and advice for resolving problems and enforcing. IC resolve eligible complaints from people who think their rights have been breached. It use legal sanctions against those who ignore or refuse to accept their obligations. 

As part of the IC's work, Commission comments on significant internal and external  consultations that relate to RTI. It also invite comments about significant documents we produce about our work. Commission can helps you to access information from any public body or other authorities as defined in the Act and to find out information on your requirement/demand.

The Functions of the Information Commission shall be as follows namely-

1. to issue directives for the preservation, management, publication, publicity of and access to information by authority;

2. to prescribe the procedure for applying for information from the authority and, as the case may be, to fix appropriate price of information;

3. to formulate guidelines and directives as to the preservation and implementation of the right to information of the citizens;

4. to consider the provisions recognized under the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh or any other law for the time being in force in order to preserve the right to information and recommend to the Government for their effective implementation

by indicating the impediments;

5. to identify the impediments against the preservation and implementation of right to information of the citizens and recommend to the Government for appropriate solution;

6. to conduct research on the agreements relating to the right toinformation and other international instruments and to recommend to the Government for their implementation;

7. to examine the similarities of the prevailing law relating to the maintenance and implementation of the right to information of the citizens and to make necessary recommendation to the or, as the case may be, to the appropriate authority in order to ensure their harmonization with the international instruments;

8. to advise the Government to ratify or sign any international instrument on right to information;

9. to conduct research on preservation and implementation of the right to information and to assist the educational and professional institution for conducting such research;

10. to publicize the issues relating to the preservation and implementation of the right to information among different classes of citizens of the society and to increase their awareness about the right to information by publishing, disseminating or any other means;

11. to advise and provide assistance to the Government in order to make necessary laws and administrative directives for preservation and implementation of right to information;

12. to advise and provide assistance to the organizations or institutions working for the preservation and implementation of the right to information and to citizens in general;

13. to increase public awareness on right to information by conducting research, seminars, symposiums, workshops and similar other measures and disseminate the result obtained from the research;

14. to give the authority technical and other assistance with a view to ensuring right to information;

15. to establish a web portal for Bangladesh to ensure right to information;

16. to oversee the actions taken under any other law relating to the preservation and implementation of the right to information.

Exemptions from Disclosure according to RTI Act.

The right to seek information from a public authority is not absolute. Sections 7of the Act enumerates the categories of information which are exempt from disclosure.

At the same time the Schedule attached to the Act contains the names of the Organizations which are exempt from the purview of the Act.

 The exemption of the organization, however, does not cover supply of information relating to allegations of corruption and human rights violations.

The applicants should abstain from seeking information, which is exempt under Section 7,  from the organizations included in the Schedule except information relating to allegations of corruption and human right  violations.

The list of exempted organizations as per RTI Act, 2009 is given below:

1. National Security Intelligence (NSI),

2. Directorate General Forces Intelligence (DGFI),

3. Defence Intelligence Units,

4. Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Bangladesh Police,

5. Special Security Force (SSF),

6. Intelligence Cell of the National Board of Revenue,

7. Special Branch, Bangladesh Police,

8. Intelligence Cell of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

Inapplicability of this Act in case of certain organizations and institutions

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any provisions of this Act, this Act shall not apply to the organisations and institutions which are involved in state security and intelligence mentioned in the Schedule.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), this section shall not apply to such information that are pertaining to corruption and violation of human rights in the above-mentioned organisations and institutions.

(3) On receipt of any request for information under sub-section

(2) the concerned organisation or institution shall, subject to the approval of the Information Commission, provide the applicant with the requested information within 30 (thirty) days from the date of receipt of such request.

(4) The Government if necessary may, in consultation with the Information Commission, amend the Schedule increasing or decreasing the number of organisations and institutions mentioned in the Schedule by a notification published in the official Gazette from time to time.

Disposal of Complaints by the Information Commission

The Information Commission decides complaints and conveys its decision to the complainant and Appellate Authority/Designated Officer.

 Any person who, does not receive a decision within the time specified, or is aggrieved by a decision of the Designated  Officer or the Appellate Authority, as the case may be, may within thirty days from the expiry of such period or from the receipt of such a decision submit a complaint to the Information Commission. 

 On receipt of a complaint the Chief Information Commissitioner, if finds it necessary, may himself inquire into or direct inquiry by any of the Information Commissioners into the contents of the petition.

The Commission may decide a complaint after hearing the parties to the complaint or by inspection of documents produced by the complainant and DO or the Appellate Authority who decided the appeal or the third party (if any and if required).The Commission will inform of the date of hearing to the parties concerned before the date of hearing. 

The parties may present their statements before the Commission either personally or through their engaged lawyers at the time of hearing.

Some questions about RTI Act?

1. Q: Do all people have the right to get information?

Answer: Section 4 of the 2009 Right to Information Act guarantees that every citizen has the right to information and the concerned authority is obligated to provide information at the request of a person.

2. Q: Is there any explanation provided in the Act on the definition of information?

Answer: Section 2 (f) of the Act clearly classifies information. For example, Information means any memo, book, design, map, agreement, information-data, log book, order, notice, document, sample, letter, statement, accounts, project proposal, photographs, audio-video, painting, film, electronically made instrument, machine readable documents and any informational material or its replica with regards to formation and functioning of any organization. However, any official note sheet or copy of a note sheet will not be included.

3. Q: Who will appoint Designated Officers?

Answer: As per section 10 of the Right to Information Act, every authority will appoint a Designated Officer within 60 days of the entry of this Act into force.

4. Q: Which organizations will appoint a ‘Designated Information Officer’ ?

Answer: As per Section 2 (b) and 2(d) of the Right to Information Act 2009, the following organizations/offices will appoint Designated Information Officers in their head, divisional, district and upazila offices:

(a) Any constitutional body of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh;

(b) Ministries, Divisions and Offices established as per the Rules under Article 55(6) of the Constitution of Bangladesh;

(c) All statutory bodies;

(d) Private organizations operated by the Government financing or supported by a grant from government funds;

(e) Non-government organizations receiving with foreign assistance;

(f) Any private organization commissioned for any public work as per contract with the Government or any organization of the Government.

(g) Organizations to be determined by the government through gazette notification from time to time. 

5. Q: What should a Designated Officer do and not do while giving information?

Answer: As per section 9 of the Right to Information Act-2009, a Designated officer should do the following while giving information:

(a) The Designated Officer will provide information within a maximum 20 working days of receipt of an application from a citizen.

(b) The information should be given within 30 working days if more than one unit or authorities are involved with the information.

(c) If the Designated Officer for any reason is unable to provide information, he/she will inform the applicant within 10 working days of the reason.

(d) The Designated Officer will provide primary information within 24 hours of receiving any application if it is related to any matter of life, death, arrest or release of a person from jail.

(e) If the Designated Officer possesses the information to be supplied to the applicants, he/she will ascertain a fair price of the information and the applicant will be requested to pay the price within five working days.

(f) If a third party is involved with providing the information, the Designated officer will issue a notice to the third party to provide a written or verbal opinion within five working days of receiving the request.

(g) After receiving the opinion of the third party, the Designated officer will take decision about giving information to the applicant after consideration.

(h) A request for information for which provision is not mandatory should not be rejected outright. The portion of the information that is not mandatory for disclosure may be logically withheld and the remaining information may be provided to the applicant. The Designated Officer will help the physically impaired persons in getting information.

According to Section 7 of the Act, it is not mandatory for a Designated Officer to provide information on 20 matters in the schedule under Section 32 of the Act and eight organizations are exempted from giving information. However, these organizations with prior approval of the Information Commission must provide information if it is related to corruption issues or violation of human rights.

6. Q: How will poor and illiterate women collect information and what does the Act say concerning underprivileged women?

Answer: As per Section 4 of the Act, every person has the right to get information and the concerned authority is obligated to provide information at the request of a person. Nothing is mentioned for poor or illiterate women as the law is equal for all citizens. However, an illiterate person may apply for information by giving one’s finger print as per the law.

7. Q: What action will be taken against the officials who say they are not obliged to give information?

Answer: As per Section 9 of the Right to Information Act, a Designated Officer is bound to respond to an applicant within the stipulated time. In case of failure of the Designated Officer to do so, the applicant, under Section 24 of the Act, may appeal to the appellate authority within the next 30 days. Within 15 days the appellate authority will either give directives to the concerned Designated Officer to provide information or reject the appeal if it found to lack grounds. If the applicant becomes aggrieved with the decision, he/she may submit a complaint with the Information Commission within the next 30 days according to section 25. The Information Commission will arrange a hearing of all concerned parties and take a decision in this regard within 45 days. However, time for resolution of the complaint may be extended in case the statement of a person or investigation is required. In any case,, the extended time must not be more than 75 days. If the Designated Officer is found guilty in the investigation, the commission may recommend for departmental punishment including fine.

8. Q: Between the 1923 Secrecy Act and the 2009 Right to Information Act which will be given precedence while providing information?

Answer: The 2009 Right to Information Act will have precedence for those sections of the 1923 Secrecy Act which are contrary to the provision of information (Section 3).

9. Q: What action can the Information Commission take in a case where an organization gives wrong information?

Answer: As per section 13 (e) of the Act, the Information Commission have the power to receive any complaint against any organization, carry out an investigation and dispose of the matter as per law.

10. Q: Is it possible to take any departmental action against the officials responsible for giving misleading information?

Answer: According to section 13(e) of the 2009 Right to Information Act, the Information Commission has the power to impose a fine against an official under section 27 (d) and (e), bring charges of misconduct under section 27 (3) against any official and recommend departmental punishment.

11. Q: What action may be taken against the Designated Officer if he/she denies information?Answer: If a Designated Officer denies any information, the applicant for information may file an appeal with appellate authority within 30 days under section 24 of the act.

12. Q: Whether information can be sought from the police and RAB?Answer: Certainly, information may be sought from the police and RAB. However, under section 32 of the 2009 Right to Information Act, the Act will not be applicable for the Special Branch of Bangladesh Police and intelligence cell of the RAB. However, any information related to corruption of the organization or human rights violations should be provided upon prior approval of the Information Commission.

13. Q: How do government officials/employees get information from other offices?Answer: There is no problem of getting information by government officials/ employees from other offices in the 2009 Right to Information Act. They may get information in the same way as the citizens.

14. Q: Who is the appellate authority and who will appoint them ?Answer: As per section 2 (a) of the Right to Information Act, the head of the immediate upper administrative office of the information delivering unit will be the appellate authority. In case of absence of any such office, the administrative chief of the concerned information delivering unit will be the appellate authority. 

15. Q: How will information of the judiciary be made available?

Answer: It is necessary for the judiciary as per Section 2(b)(i) of the Right to Information Act to furnish any information sought by citizens. Under Section 9 of the Act, a person upon applying for any information may get it from the concerned Designated Officer within a certain period.

16. Q: When is information to be made available quickly?

Answer: As per section 9 (4) of the act, the Designated Officer will provide information within 24 hours of a request for information on life or death, arrest or release of a person from prison.

17. Q: Will the Designated Officer be made responsible in cases where a person distorts information?

Answer: It is stated in the section 4 (5) of the 2009 Right to Information Rules that the Designated Officer will sign every page to be given to an applicant for information. The paper will contain the name, designation, signature and official seal of the Designated Officer. Thus, there is no scope to distort the information provided by the Designated Officer.

18. Q: Is there any fee to get information?

Answer: The 2009 Right to Information Rules in the Form no-8 (d) stipulates the following fees for information:
(1) For supplying any written document (map, design, photograph, computer print) on A3 or A4 size paper, every page is 2 Taka, and for any larger size copy the actual price of the paper.

(2) For supplying information on a disc, CD etc.: (a) free of cost if the applicant supplies the disc or CD, (b) actual price of the disc or CD if it is supplied by the information provider.

(3) Free of cost if the information is supplied to anybody as per law, government rules, or directives.

(4) Any commercial publication at its sale value.

19. Q: What is the role of journalists to implement the Right to Information Act?

Answer: Journalists of both electronic and print media can play an important role in implementing the 2009 Right to Information Act. Their publicity will enhance the level of public awareness about the Act and make public understand the useful aspects of the Act. 

20. Q: Is the Police Force obliged to give information?

Answer: As per law, the Police Force is obliged to provide information. However, as per schedule 7 of the section 32 of the Right to Information Act, the Special Branch of Bangladesh Police and intelligence cell of the RAB were exempted from this obligation. However, any information related to corruption of the organization or human rights violations should be provided upon prior approval of the Information Commission. 

21. Q: What is an information providing unit?

Answer: An “information providing unit” means head office, divisional office, regional office, district office or upazila office of any department, directorate or office attached to or under any ministry, division or office of the Government. 

22. Q: Who will provide information if an office has no Designated Officer?

Answer: Under the 2009 Right to Information Act, the appointment of a Designated Information Officer is mandatory for every office. In the absence of the Designated Officer, an alternative officer will discharge the duty.