& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

3 bills extending tenure of CHT bodies passed

By Staff Correspondent
The Jatiya Sangsad yesterday passed three identical bills, extending the tenure of the local government councils of Rangamati. Khagrachari and Bandarban hill districts by 360 days.
The bills, passed by voice votes, also said that the government would try to hold elections to the three local government councils within the next 180 days. In case, the elections do not take place, the government will appoint an interim council' to run the local administrations there, the bill said.
Earlier. President Sha-habuddin Ahmed had promulgated three ordinances extending the time limit of the local government" councils. The original tenure of the elected councils (parishads) expired on July 11. 1992 and I he tenure was extended thrice during the BNP government, by a total of 1640 days. With the passage of the bills yesterday, the tenure
has been extended to 2000 day from 1640 days.
While arguing for passage of the bills. Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Lt Gen (retd) Noor Uddin Khan said that the government had made "substantial progress" in resolving ■ the "crisis" in the area through dialogue. Extension of the tenure of the local bodies would eventually help the government hold 'meaningful eleclions' in the areas, with the active participation of both the. Bangalee and non-Bangalee communities living in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region, he said.
Replying to Opposition objections to the passage ol the bills, the minister concerned said that the BNP government had extended the tenure of the same local bodies for three
He also said that during the BNP rule, a government delegation had gone to Agartala of In-dia to have a dialogue with the Shantibahini leaders. "Now. what is the wrong with having a discussion with them in the state guest house?" the minister asked and said that for the sake of peace, the uresent government was ready to hold talks with them anywhere in the world.
Khan also told the House that with the progress of the peace talks, "the government would call back the soldiers from the remote camps to garrisons in the Chittagong Hill Tracts."
The minister, however, did not address the objection raised against the provision for 'appointing an interim local body in the areas by the government.'
Earlier, the BNP lawmakers opposed both the extension of the tenure of the councils and the idea of 'appointing' an 'interim council' by the government. Two Jatiya Party legislators also opposed the bills, although they did not vote against those.
While opposing the bills. BNP legislator Prof. Shahidul Islam said it was unfortunate that the government was giving the Shantibahini leaders, who have been killing “our fellow citizens" in the hill districts, the honour of state "guests" and holding discussions at the state guests house.
Arguing against the provision Tor appointing' the proposed 'interim council'. BNP MP Major (Retd) Akhtaruzzaman said it was ultra vires of the Constitution. Quoting from Article 59 of the Constitution, he said local governments at all tyres have to be run by 'elected representatives of the people'.
The provision for appointing an interim council' in the hill districts is nothing but an attempt to make the administration of the region partisan, he said.
Mashiur Rahman of the BNP claimed The Shantibahini had been killing our people with military backing from In dia."
Claiming that the present government had a special relation with India. Mashiur said it was possible to hold elections in the Chittagong Hill Tracts if the government persuaded India to create a congenial atmosphere there. "So the government should not seek extension of the tenure of the local bodies in the hill districts." he argued.
Abdul Alim, another BNP MP, told the House that the "crisis" in Chittagong Hill Tracts began with the head of the first government of the country asking the tribal people to become "Bangalees".
"It is unfortunate that the present government is now makiitg efforts to withdraw army ham the troubled zone, when the Shantibahini has been disturbing peace in the
area with Indian support.' Alim added.
Jatiya Party MP M K Alam Chowdhury observed that the provision for appointing' an 'interim council' was 'a clear shift of the ruling Awami League from democratic principles.
JP MP Abu Lais Mohammad Mobin Chowdhury also observed that the proposal for 'appointing a council was inconsistent with the constitution and democratic principles as well.
The JP legislator also complained that the Chief Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad who led the government delegation in the recent peace talks with the Shantibahini leaders did not submit any report on the progress of talks.
Earlier. BNP lawmaker M K Anwar demanded revision of the ruling by the Chair on whether a technocrat minister could speak on behalf of another ministry. Deputy Speaker Abdul Hamid who was in the chair at that time said that he would give a ruling after due scrutiny.
Speaker Humayun Rashid Chowdhury adjourned the House at 5:00 pm yesterday till 11:00 this afternoon.