President, PM seek support to implement CHT deal

The 25th anniversary of Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord will be observed on Friday.

Different programmes have been arranged in the three hilly districts, marking the anniversary of the peace treaty.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday issued separate messages marking the completion of 25 years of the significant treaty.

President Abdul Hamid in his massage said Chittagong Hill Tracts is rich with natural resources and a place of potentials.

The Peace Accord is speeding up the socio-economic and cultural development of Chittagong Hill Tracts, he said.

He urged all to work unitedly for the development of the hill region.

In her message, the Prime Minister said the Awami League government has been working tirelessly for the overall development of the hilly region in the light of the peace treaty.

Various schemes are being implemented for the development of all sectors including education, health, electricity, communication, infrastructure and mobile network in the region, she added.

“We are committed to maintain peace all over the country including Chittagong Hill Tracts,” said the PM.

“I hope we will be able to build a peaceful, happy Sonar Bangladesh as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman through the socio-economic development of the Hill Tracts people with united efforts of all.”

She sought cooperation from all to fully implement the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord.

Prominent citizens of the country have demanded full implementation of all the commitments in line with the Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord by removing all obstacles, noting that expectation still remains unfulfilled. On December 2, 1997, the government of Bangladesh and Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti signed this historic agreement in an effort to find a political solution to the problems in the CHT.

Forty-one eminent citizens placed an eight-point demand mentioning that the implementation of the peace accord has not advanced as anticipated.

“It is a matter of great regret that in the 25 years of the agreement, no progress has been made as expected in the implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts agreement though several clauses of the agreement have been implemented,” reads a joint statement signed by Shamsul Huda, Executive Director of Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD).

In particular, the eminent citizens said that it is very sad that no effective initiative has been taken to advance the process of implementing the agreement though the Awami League government that signed the agreement has been in power for the third consecutive term.

Although the treaty was signed with the intention of preserving the characteristics of the CHT as an indigenous region, it is with great concern that we note that as per the latest census data, the demographic ratio of the Chittagong Hill Tracts has started to shift in favour of the hill tribes.

“We are deeply concerned about the ineffectiveness and inaction of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Land Commission. Recently, their regular meetings had to be adjourned several times due to interference from vested interests. The silence of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs or the government in this regard is very sad,” they said in the statement.

Specific demands from the civil society include full implementation of all commitments proposed in the agreement, necessary budget, manpower and visible support of the highest level of government for the proper functioning of the land dispute resolution commission.

Rights activist Sultana Kamal, ALRD Chairperson and Nijera Kori Coordinator Khushi Kabir, eminent economist and researcher Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Research Initiative Bangladesh (RIB) Executive Director Dr Meghna Guhathakurta, General Secretary of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad Rana Dasgupta, Executive Director of TIB Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Dr. Abul Barkat, Prof Mesbah Kamal and Shaheen Anam are among the 41 signatories of the statement.