CHT accord implementation makes significant progress: Abdullah

Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee Convener Abul Hasnat Abdullah on Tuesday said implementation of the historic peace agreement made a significant progress.

“We’ve discussed everything and every issue in the meeting,” he told BSS after the 5th meeting of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

Abul Hasnat Abdullah chaired the meeting while home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing, secretary of Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs Ministry Hamida Begum, Chairman of Chattogram Hill Tracts Refugee Taskforce Kujendra Lal Tripura, Chairman of Parbatya Chattogram Regional Parisad Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, popularly known as Shantu Larma, among others, attended it.

“We have been working to implement all issues in line with the treaty . . . in today’s meeting, we have reviewed the entire situation of the hill tracks to beef up further the implementation of the accord,” said Hasnat Abdullah who enjoys minister status as convener of the committee.

Earlier, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said police will be deployed in the camps left by the army in Chittagong Hill Tracts aimed at maintaining the law and order and
peace.

He said some 240 temporary camps were vacant and police are being deployed on 30 camps for ensuring security of the local people as many people including students are visiting the area frequently.

On December 2, the 24th anniversary of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) peace accord was observed. The accord was signed on December 2 in 1997 between the government and the Parbatya Chattogram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS) during the first tenure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, ending bloody conflicts in three hill districts.

The then Jatiya Sangsad Chief Whip Abul Hasnat Abdullah signed the agreement on behalf of the government while Joritindra Bodhipriya Larma (Santu Larma) on behalf of the PCJSS.