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How to file a right to information request in Bangladesh: a step-by-step guide

Step-by-step guide to Bangladesh's RTI Act 2009: who can apply, the form, designated officers, costs, 20-day limits, exemptions, appeals and complaints.

Published 18 October 2026, Guide

Last reviewed 18 October 2026. Rules and fees change; check the official source before relying on this guide.

Bangladesh's Right to Information Act, 2009 (RTI Act) lets citizens ask public bodies for records they hold. Used carefully, it is one of the most direct ways to obtain documents about how public money and power are used. This guide takes you through a request from start to finish.

Who can apply, and to whom

Every citizen of Bangladesh has the right to request information. You do not have to give a reason for your request.

The Act covers more than ministries. An "authority" includes bodies set up under the Constitution, ministries, divisions and offices of government, statutory bodies, and private organisations that run on government funding or foreign aid grants. It also covers organisations doing public work under a government contract.

Each office of an authority must appoint a designated officer: the official responsible for receiving requests and supplying information. Their name and contact details should be displayed at the office and are often on its website. If you cannot find them, ask at the office reception or check the authority's website.

Step by step

  1. Identify the right office. Work out which authority, and which office within it, is likely to hold the record. A request sent to the wrong office wastes time.
  2. Write a clear request. Section 8 of the Act says a request must include your name and address (and email address if you have one), a correct and clear description of the information you want, any details that help locate it, and how you want to receive it: inspection, a copy, taking notes or another approved method.
  3. Use the prescribed form if you can. The RTI rules set out an application form (Form "Ka", often translated as Form A). Many authorities post it on their websites. If the form is not available, the Act allows you to apply on plain paper, in electronic form or by email, as long as you include the same details.
  4. Submit it and keep proof. Hand it in and ask for a receipt, send it by registered post, or email it and keep a copy. Note the date: the time limits run from when the officer receives it.
  5. Pay any cost asked for. The Act allows a reasonable fee set under the rules, usually linked to the cost of providing copies. If a payment is needed, the designated officer must tell you the amount within 5 working days. Pay only by the official method the officer specifies and keep the receipt.
  6. Wait for the reply, and track the deadline. See the time limits below. If the deadline passes with no reply, the Act treats your request as refused, and you can appeal.

Time limits

What can be withheld

Section 7 lists 20 categories of information an authority is not obliged to disclose. They include information that could harm security or the integrity of the state, secret information received from a foreign government, information that would harm an ongoing investigation, and information that would invade an individual's privacy. A refusal must be in writing with reasons, so it should say which ground is being used. If only part of a record seems exempt, ask for the rest.

Section 32 excludes a list of security and intelligence bodies, set out in a schedule to the Act, from its scope. There is an important exception: information about corruption and human rights violations in those bodies can still be requested, and must be provided within 30 days with the Information Commission's approval.

If you are refused or get no reply

Appeal to the appellate authority

The appellate authority is the administrative head of the office immediately above the one you applied to (or the head of that office, if there is no higher one). Appeal within 30 days of the refusal or of the missed deadline. A late appeal may be accepted if you have a reasonable cause. The RTI rules provide an appeal form; if you use it, a short covering letter naming the appellate authority helps. The appellate authority should decide within 15 days.

Complaint to the Information Commission

If the appeal fails or is not answered, you can complain to the Information Commission, normally within 30 days. The Commission should resolve a complaint within 45 days, extendable to a maximum of 75 days. It can order disclosure and fine a designated officer Tk 50 a day for delay, up to Tk 5,000, after giving them a hearing.

The Commission had no commissioners from 2024 until 17 October 2026, when the government announced a new Chief Information Commissioner and two Information Commissioners. A backlog of complaints built up in that period, so expect delays and check the Commission's official website for current procedures. An amending ordinance issued in February 2026 was not approved by Parliament and was sent back for review, so the 2009 Act remains the base text.

Dos and don'ts

Do

  • Ask for specific documents, dates and offices rather than broad "all information".
  • Ask for certified copies when you may need to rely on a record publicly.
  • Keep copies of every request, receipt, reply and envelope.
  • Diary the deadlines: 5, 10, 20 and 30 working days, then 30 days to appeal.
  • Split a large request into smaller, focused ones.

Don't

  • Don't include opinions, accusations or names of suspected wrongdoers in the request.
  • Don't pay anyone informally to "speed up" a request.
  • Don't ask for information you know is classified or operational.
  • Don't miss the appeal deadline while waiting on a phone promise.
  • Don't use a work email address or work computer for a sensitive request.

Staying safe

Most requests are routine. But a request about a powerful office can draw attention to you, especially in a small community or if you work for the body concerned. Think about whether you should file it yourself, or whether a journalist, lawyer or civil society organisation might file it instead. Write neutrally: ask for records, not explanations. Never use a work device or work network to research or file a sensitive request. Read our source safety dos and don'ts before you start.

If the records you receive suggest wrongdoing, see how to report corruption in Bangladesh, or share them through our secure tip form. For more on the institutions behind these records, see the Bangladesh public file. To compare the process with neighbouring countries, read our guides for India and Pakistan.

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to say why I want the information?

No. The RTI Act, 2009 asks for your name and address, a clear description of the information and how you want to receive it. It does not require a reason.

Can I file an RTI request in Bangladesh by email?

Yes. Section 8 allows requests in writing, in electronic form or by email. Keep a copy and note the date it was sent.

How much does an RTI request cost?

The Act allows a reasonable fee set under the RTI rules, usually linked to the cost of copies. The designated officer must tell you the amount within 5 working days; check the authority's official notice for current rates.

What happens if the officer does not reply in 20 working days?

The Act treats the request as refused. You can appeal to the appellate authority within 30 days and, if that fails, complain to the Information Commission.

Can I use RTI to get information from the army or intelligence agencies?

Defence bodies are covered subject to the section 7 exemptions. Scheduled security and intelligence bodies are excluded under section 32, except for information about corruption and human rights violations.

Can someone abroad file a Bangladesh RTI request?

The Act gives the right to citizens of Bangladesh, so a Bangladeshi citizen abroad can apply, for example by email. Non-citizens are not covered by the Act's wording.

Sources