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Move to have positive results : Guatam Dewan

Hill District Councils get more powers

From Staff Correspondent
CHITTAGONG Dec 18 : The government recently transferred three more subjects providing more administrative powers to the elected Hill District Councils of Rangamati, Khagrachari and Banderbon In a bid to spearhead the peace process aimed at winding up the 18-ycar long tribal insurgency. The three subjects included livestock, fisheries and small and cottage industries. The subjects transferred to the HiU District Councils so far total six out of 22 administrative areas scheduled by the gov ernment while the remaining 16 subjects were in the pro-< cess of being transferred soon in phases, official sources said.
At the Initial stage the gov ernment handed over administrative powers of three subjects relating to agriculture, health and primary education of the Hill District Councils with a commitment to transfer the rest In phases. Among the three freshly transferred sub Jects, livestock came into effect from December I, 1991 and fisheries and industries from December 15, 1991, according to the letter issued by the concerned ministries to the relevant authorities recently.
The transfer of those three
more administrative powers to the hill districts followed the decision taken six months ago at a meeting of the Hill Tracts Cabinet Council held June 9 with the then Acting President Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed in the chair in which the concerned ministries were instructed to expedite the process of handing over the rest of the 22 administrative subjects.
Officials said that the three Hill District Councils were being provided with those administrative powers in order to remove the mistrust unwng the insurgents about the government's good intentions as well as to bring the hill people into the mainstream of development activities.
Besides. It would create tn environment favouring an end to the 18-ycar bush war waged by tribal rebels, the "Shanlibahlnl" official hoped.
Meanwhile. this correspondent today morning contacted the Chairman of Rangamati District Council Guatam Dcwan over phone to know his reaction over the handing over of three more administrative subjects.
Guatam, thanking the government said that the transfer of three more subjects would really help In restoring the confidence of the hill people over the policies and actions of the government that in turn could lead lo an end lo the long-drawn crisis in the whole Chittagong Hill Tract areas, that saw heavy casualties in unrest following acts of violence by the Shantlbahini men reportedly backed by India.
"I think such steps by the, goveniment have u positive result in resolving the CUT Issue. Guatam added.
Chairman Gualam further suld The peace process of the government could have gone much ahead had the handing over of scheduled administrative subjects been made a long lime a0o."
"Strike the Iron when it Is hot" cited Gautam saying that much water flowed down ihc river of mistrust only because of the delay In transferring the •aid subjects lo the Hill District Councils.