Assessing the Effectiveness of the Right to Information Act in Rural Local Government Institutions in Bangladesh: A Study on Two Selected Unions in Mymensingh District
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22010209Keywords:
Right to Information, Citizen Empowerment, Citizen Charter, RTI Requests, Awareness Campaigns, Accountability, Transparency, Citizens' SatisfactionAbstract
Right to Information Act enables the citizens to access pertinent information in both- government and non-government institutions. This study would be aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of Right to Information Act within local government institutions at the rural level in Bangladesh. The research design was mixed method research studies. Primary data was collected with the help of a structured survey questionnaire and interview checklist. The information is gathered among 138 respondents of two unions in two upazilas in Mymensingh district. After conducting a thorough review of related literature and examining the information gathered from survey and interview, the study found that maximum number of citizens are not aware of the Act after fifteen years of implementation. They don’t know the actual process of making RTI requests. They come to public offices to know information verbally. Educated people and NGO activists asked for information. They submit RTI requests to know the information related to land or development projects. The results of the research also represent that RTI Act may be used to guarantee accountability and transparency within the public offices of union. It plays a significant role towards enhancing the efficiency of RTI Act in the local government institutions in the rural level in Bangladesh. The study collects some evidence-based recommendations through survey and interview. The study also suggests some ways to overcome the existing challenges in implementing the RTI Act in rural level local government institutions in Bangladesh.
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