Taking cognizance of Shariful's complaint, the Commission held a virtual hearing with both the parties on November 15 last year. The Commission decided that the failure to provide information had hindered the free flow of information. The Commission directed the information provider to provide the information and warned the executive engineer to be careful in future.
In some cases, government officials not only delay providing information but also harass the persons concerned. For example, last March journalist Shafiuzzaman was sentenced and sent to jail because he sought information from the office of the Nakla Upazila Nirbahi officer in Sherpur.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, Desh Rupantar's upazila correspondent Shafiuzzaman said that on March 5, he had gone to the UNO office to apply under the Right to Information Act for information about the purchase of computers and laptops under a certain project. After submitting the application, he asked for the 'receipt copy' (acknowledgment of receipt) of the application from the concerned officer there. He was asked to wait. Then one time UNO Saadia Ummul Bunin came and abused him. He called the Executive Magistrate, Assistant Commissioner (Land).
Shafiuzzaman said the magistrate sentenced him to one month's imprisonment under Section 188 of the Penal Code for obstructing government work and six months' imprisonment under Section 509 for insulting a woman.