Digital Disclosure for a Greener Future: Bangladesh Marks International Right to Information Day

With the theme “Ensuring the Right to Information in the Digital Age for Environmental Protection,” International Right to Information Day is being observed worldwide on Sunday, September 28. As in previous years, Bangladesh has taken up a series of programs across the country, including in Dhaka, to mark the UNESCO-recognized occasion and raise public awareness on the right to information.

The central event will be held at 3:00 pm at the auditorium of the Information Commission in Agargaon, Dhaka. Information and Broadcasting Adviser Md. Mahfuz Alam will attend as the chief guest. The session will be presided over by Commission Secretary Nur Md. Mahbubul Haque, with Information and Broadcasting Secretary Mahbuba Farzana as special guest.

The panel of discussants includes Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), and Dr. Fahmida Khanam, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

According to sources, in addition to the central event in Dhaka, separate discussions will be organized at the district level. Awareness initiatives include promotional SMS campaigns, digital screenings of documentaries on the right to information, festival banners on websites, and content on digital advertising boards.

This year’s theme emphasizes the vital role of information in daily life and underscores how access and transparency have become essential for environmental protection. Issues such as climate change, deforestation, river pollution, air quality, and biodiversity conservation are expected to receive renewed attention through awareness campaigns on social media.

Experts note that “the effectiveness of the right to information has increased in today’s digital era.” Internet connectivity, mobile apps, and digital data platforms have strengthened citizens’ ability to access government records, environmental data, project reports, and policy information. Specialists further highlight that open data platforms should be developed nationally to monitor deforestation, pollution, climate change, and water quality, while leveraging social media and online portals. They also stress the need for digital tools specifically designed to support environmental conservation.