Appeal filed by journalist against 6 officials in Naogaon over allegations of disregarding Right to Information Act

Daily Bijoy News, Badalgachi, Naogaon Correspondent:

Journalist Sabuj Hossain, the district correspondent of Daily Ajker Bangla newspaper, has filed appeal applications against three Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) and three Upazila LGED officers of Naogaon district for not providing information within the legal timeframe despite applying under the Right to Information Act. It has been learned that journalist Sabuj Hossain applied for information to the Executive Officers of Badalgachi, Sapahar, and Patnitala upazilas between September 7 and 14 under the Right to Information Act. During the same period, applications were also submitted separately to the LGED engineers of Naogaon Sadar, Sapahar, and Patnitala upazilas in accordance with the Right to Information Act. However, even after the stipulated 20 working days had passed, no information was provided by the concerned offices. In this situation, he was forced to apply to the appellate authority under Section 24 of the Right to Information Act, 2009.

Among these, an appeal has been filed with the District Magistrate against Badalgachi Upazila Executive Officer Israt Jahan Soni, and separate appeal applications have been filed against the Executive Officers of Patnitala and Sapahar upazilas. On the other hand, journalist Sabuj Hossain has also filed appeal applications with the Executive Engineer of the District LGED against the LGED engineers of Naogaon Sadar, Patnitala, and Sapahar upazilas. In the appeal application, he mentioned that although providing information within 20 working days is mandatory under the Right to Information Act, the concerned officials have violated the law, which is clearly a contempt of the law. He alleged that negligence in performing government duties and violating the law has undermined the right to receive information in the public interest.

Written applications on this matter have been submitted to the District Magistrate and the District LGED authorities. While no comment was obtained from the District Magistrate, the Executive Engineer of the District LGED said, "After receiving the application, I have spoken with the concerned three upazila engineers. They will provide the information to the applicant soon. Some information cannot be provided without the permission of the upazila administration – they have been advised to inform in writing regarding that matter."

Daily Bijoy News/ Md. Sarwar Hossain Apu