22 YEARS OF CHT ACCORD Full implementation remains elusive

The Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord, signed 22 years ago, is yet to be fully implemented due lack of political commitment by successive governments, ethnic and rights groups resent.

The current Awami League-led government claims that most provisions of the accord have been implemented in phases during their three tenures.

But rights groups working for ethnic communities believe that only some of the articles were either fully or partially implemented while most of the commitments made in the accord remain unfulfilled.

The AL-led government signed the peace pact on ecember 2, 1997, for ending armed conflicts between ethnic communities and security forces, ensuring protection of their land rights, and revival and protection of their cultural uniqueness.

The accord was also aimed at rehabilitation of the people displaced due to conflicts and repatriation of those who had left the country, limiting the presence of security forces and setting up regional and district councils headed by representatives of the ethnic communities.

Abul Hasanat Abdullah, then chief whip of the Jatiya Sangsad and convener of the National Committee on Chittagong Hill Tracts, signed the accord on behalf of the government in presence of then prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, better known as Santu Larma, who heads the Parbatya Chattogram Jana-Samhati Samiti signed the instrument on behalf of the ‘residents of the Chittagong Hill Tracts’.

‘The government has not enacted laws and framed rules, among many other provisions of the accord, which are essential for implementation of the accord,’ Bangladesh Adivasi Forum general secretary Sanjeeb Drong told New Age on Thursday.

Community leaders in the region claim that disputes on possession of land by settlers is still unresolved as the land commission formed by the government to formulate solutions could not become functional due to bureaucratic tangles.

Commitments to identify the non-ethnic permanent residents, preparing separate voters list for the ethnic people, placing law and order under local bodies, granting licence to establish heavy industries in the region and cancellation of the leases of land for rubber and other plantations were not fulfilled too, they said.  

Provisions for withdrawing security and civil defence forces, transferring hill matters to be dealt by regional and hill district councils, rehabilitation of returnee ethnic families, encouraging tourism, fixing job quota for ethnic people and general clemency to ethnic individuals charged with secessionist offences before signing the accord were partially implemented, they said.

The government has, however, created the ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts affairs and formed the Chittagong Hill Tracts regional council and employed staff to the council, among some provisions implemented so far.  

Sanjeeb Drong believes that full implementation of the accord ‘is not in the priority list of the government.’

It would be necessary for the government to pay special attention and demonstrate sincerity to the implementation of the deal under a time-frame, he said.

Several local ethnic groups and the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist party opposed the accord.

The CHT districts have remained one of the most unstable areas in the country with scores of ethnic and non-ethnic people being killed in attacks and counter-attacks by rival groups every year due to the nonfulfillment of the accord, rights groups observed.  

Abul Hasanat Abdullah, who is now convener of the committee to implement the accord, said on Saturday that they (the PCJSS) signed the accord after massive movement and sacrifice.

‘I shouldn’t hurt them by claiming that certain provisions have been implemented,’ he told New Age, adding, ‘They may claim that those provisions have not been fully implemented.’  

The government is, however, fully willing to implement the accord, he said.   

Different rights groups are likely to arrange programmes in the capital, three hill districts and elsewhere demanding full implementation of the accord on Monday and Tuesday.

Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, also the chairman of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council, and leaders representing different rights groups are expected to join the programmes.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net