BNP will not challenge the CHT accord in the court but face the government on the issue politically, party Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan ,MP has said.

"We're politicians, not mam-labaz. we aren't going to sue...We'll face the government politically." Bhuiyan told a presS conference at the BNP central office in the city yvater-day evening.

Reiterating the BNP demand

for scrapping the "unconstitutional" accord on the CHT without further delay, he said The proposed regional council seems to be a body for a 'semiprovince', totally different in structure from a local government body."

Mannan Bhuiyan once again asked the government to go for a fresh treaty involving all con-cerued after discussing the matter in the Jatiya Sangsad.

"Since the whole nation is opposed to the accord, we will have to continue street agitation against it." Bhuiyan asserted. He claimed that the ruling party units in the CHT also participated in the Opposition-called two day hartal in the hill districts, that ended yesterday.

When his attention was drawn to the Prime Minister's comment that the previous BNP government was about to grant autonomy to the CHT, Mannan Bhuiyan said: Her statement is purely deceptive and contradicts tacts.

The experts committee of BNP, which earlier examined the CHT accord to decide the party stance, is also examining the PM's speech on the issue. "We'll further speak on the matter as soon as the committee prepares its report." he added.

Asked if his party would join the planned special session of parliament for discussing the CHT accord, the BNP Secretary General replied. "Participating

in the discussion would mean legalising the unconstitutional agreement. . . We would have definitely taken part in the discussion had It been arranged before signing of the accord ... We re still ready to discuss the Issue in parliament if the government goes for a fresh accord."

The CHT accord had discriminated the tribal and nontribal people In the hijl districts and frustrated thte people in other areas.

Earlier. Mannan Bhuiyan thanked the people of Chittagong and three hill districts for "rejecting” the CHT accord through spontaneous observance of hartal yesterday and the day before. He also alleged repression by police and ruling party activists during the hartals and demanded immediate release of all those arrested in connection with the anti-accord agitation.

On the second day of hartal yesterday, he alleged, police arrested 38 BNP men. of whom 23 were later freed, and raided the houses of all the BNP leaders in Chittagong.