Open Records Laws › Bangladesh

Bangladesh

Right to Information Act 2009

Right to Information Act 2009 (Act No. XX of 2009)

RTI Rating: 109 (source)

Response Timeline

Initial Response
20 days
Extension
10 days
Residency Required
Citizen

20 working days, extendable to 30 if multiple authorities involved. Life/death matters: 24 hours.

How to Submit a Request

Accepted Methods

  • {'notes': 'Prescribed form preferred', 'method': 'written'}
  • {'notes': 'Electronic submission permitted', 'method': 'electronic'}
  • {'notes': 'Email allowed under Article 8', 'method': 'email'}

Submit to designated officer. Form not required if unavailable.

Required Elements

  • Name
  • Address
  • Description of information
  • Preferred access method

Fees

Filing free. Fees set by government notification, cannot exceed actual costs.

Fee Waivers

  • Government may exempt individuals/classes (Art. 8(5))

Exemptions

  • Strategic Research
    Scientific/technical secrets for strategic/commercial reasons
  • Security Organizations
    State security/intelligence (limited override for corruption/HR)

Section 7: ~20 exemptions. All require Information Commission approval before refusal. Narrow public interest override for security org corruption/HR violations.

Appeal Process

1

1

2

2

Two-tier. Article 29 bars court jurisdiction except Supreme Court writs.

Sources & References