NON-IMPLEMENTATION OF CHT ACCORD : Aggressive nationalism, lack of democracy blamed [ Tritiyo Matra News ]

NON-IMPLEMENTATION OF CHT ACCORD : Aggressive nationalism, lack of democracy blamed

Local November 30, 2015

Full implementation of Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord is not taking place due to aggressive nationalist, communal and undemocratic outlook of the rulers and policy makers, alleged top leaders of hill people at a discussion in capital on Sunday.
CHT area remains volatile as a huge number of army soldiers are still in the area in the name of security, rapid Islamisation, land grabbing, human rights violation caused insecurity among the hill people, said human rights activists at the seminar on ‘the 18th anniversary of CHT accord: rights and realities of local people’.
Bangladesh Adivashi Forum and Kapaeeng Foundation jointly organised the discussion.
‘There is absence of governance in CHT area and state of anarchy persists there. Cruel truth is that nobody including me feels safe at CHT said Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti president Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, popularly known as Santu larma.
‘Full implementation of Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord is not taking place due to aggressive nationalist, communal and undemocratic outlook of the rulers and policy makers,’ added Santu, who inked the CHT peace accord on behalf of hill people on December 2, 1997.
The accord between the PCJSS, the political wing of the armed Shanti Bahini, and the government was signed ending 22 years of guerrilla warfare. .
He said that road map with timeline was urgently needed for full implementation of the accord.
He also said that CHT Accord Implementation Committee, Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council, Hill District Councils, should be made effective for bringing change to the life of CHT people.
Government should bring amendments to the CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission Act 2001 as soon as possible, for ending crucial land issue of jumma people, Santu demanded.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s international affairs adviser Gowher Rizvi at the programme hoped that CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission (amendment) Act 2013 would be tabled at the parliament in the next session.
He said that government was serious about full implementation of the CHT Accord. ‘I will begin my initiative regarding a road map with time line very soon,’ he said.
Gowher Rizvi emphasised creating a liaison office of Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council in Dhaka for close coordination in the accord implementation. ‘We can sit in a meeting every alternative week for speeding the implementation process,’ he said.
National Human Rights Commission chairman Mizanur Rahman said that non-implementation of an accord after signing was ‘an uncivilised job’.
He said that harmony between Bengali and indigenous people was under threat.
‘Rape and gang rape as well as impunity have increased; it is matter of great concern. Islamisation is taking place as the number of madrassahs in the area increased,’ said Mizanur.
At present, there are three types of governance in the CHT area — one led by Santu Larma, one by military and another by the government, he said. ‘Militarisation and Operation Uttaran should be stopped immediately,’ he added.
Raja Devashis Roy, chief of Chakma circle, said hill people deserved basic right as citizens of Bangladesh.
Dhaka University professor Sadeka Halim, Manusher Jonno Foundation executive director Shaheen Anam, PCJSS leader Mangal Kumar Chakma, Bangladesh Adivashi Forum general secretary Snajeeb Drong and others spoke at the discussion.