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LETTER FROM AMERICA

For a Bengali who Went to School with the Chakmas, a Time to Rejoice

United States apply.

Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed Writes from Princeton
**For i^ose'wfio^iieve fhat Bangtaitesh Is giving sovereightyciwiay to the tribals, let me remind them that in most states of the United States thire are Native American reservations, where few laws of the
FOR someone who grew up going to school with the Chakma children, the news of the Chittagong Hill Tracts accord generated unbridled pleasure, even here past quarter cerrtuiy: it was good to see them get some measure of Justice.
The writer's first contact with the Chakmas occurred in the spring of 1960. Under the Sildance of Principal Lt. Col. aurice Brown. East Pakistan (now Faujderhat) Cadet College maintained an "Outward Bound and Adventure Training" camp at Rangamati. The first camp was at old" Rangamati. But everyone kept on saying that "old" Rangamati was going under water soon, and that our new camps were going to be in higher, "new” Rangamati.
The locals, belonging to Mongoloid ethnic stock, looked very different from the Bengalis. They were of fairer skin, went about their ways without bothering anybody, and seemed very peaceful and serene. Some
of us kept on wondering: how can they be happy when their houses were going to be under water soon. 1 imc v, I wouldn't.
As we took a C'p in old Kar-naphull river, again we were reminded that that portion of the river was going to be history soon. On our trip to Kaptai. ea-K young engineers showed us turbines, and explained to us in great detail how a hydroelectric plant works. Of course, we absorbed very little. The high point of the trip was a party hosted for us by the young Raja Tridiv Roy. The senior Raja, reportedly a friend of Li-aquat All Khan, had opted for Pakistan, with the assurance _ that the tribals would enjoy' special privileges. Including re
served seats schools and universities. First the Pakistanis. then the Bangladeshis repeatedly went back on their words.
The next time we went to Rangamati in 1962, there was this huge lake, and water was everywhere. Bengalis had romantic ties with Rangamati. All that, including Utpala Sen's hit song, "Rangamatir Pahare" drowned in the lake! There was no sign of "old" Rangamati. All the houses in "new" Rangamati were new, the soil had a reddish hue. Even as fourteen year-olds. we wondered: "did the tribals manage to get out in time, before the water swamped their homesteads?" The high point of that trip was the cul-
tural function, where a Chakma girl gave her enchanting rendition of Lata Mangeshkar's freshly released hit song: "O Banshl Hai ," Instantly, each and everyone of us fell in love with her!
Through some enlightened pers< ns’ foresight, soon we began hating Chakma students at Cadet < allege. Nitish Dewan. I believ. >zas the first. Saw La Prue (I apologize if I spelled his name wrongly) came to our House. It was through Prue that I realized how different the Chakmas were from us. At House functions. Saw La sang. The words and sounds of the song were exotic — unlike anything any of us had heard before. I still remember some of the words: "Aakoshini Akoshi ..." I wish I had asked Saw La what those words meant. Nevertheless, the fact that the tribals were a different people, with rich language and cultural heritage, was beyond question, as far as we were concerned. In spite of our cultural divide, the Chakma and the Bengali stu-
dents treated each other as absolute equals, and brothers.
As CHT descended ir'o turmoil and conflict In the 1970s, it saddened uq. Soon after suffering so much at the hands of the Pakistanis, we were meting out the same treatment to the tribals. Not only did we destroy their habitats, we were laying claim to rest of their ancient lands. Of course, like many well-meaning Bengalees. I suffered mental anguish but did nothing. It may not amount to much now, but as a Bengali, I should like to apologize to my tribal brothers and sisters for what they have suffered. I do feel our collective guilt.
Times have changed. The world now considers building river dams an ecological disaster! With teeming millions, the pressure on land In Bangladesh Is enormous. Our people take the chance of being swept away by tidal waves (such as in Urir Char) in the quest of new land. Therefore, one has to sympathize with the innocent Bengali CHT settlers: their intentions
were not malicious! However, the method of farming, and the concept of land ownership are totally different with the tribals. Bengali system of land ownership and cultivation cannot supersede the ancient-1 ways M the।tribals It is not a question df magnanimity of the Bengalis towaids the tribals, it is the tribals' God-given right!
For those who believe that Bangladesh is giving sovereignty away to the tribals, let me remind them that in most states of the United States there are Native American reservations, where few laws of the United States apply. These are not tiny slices of land, sometimes they are huge chunks! In the state of Arizona, for example. 27 per cent of the land belongs to the Native Americans!
Many a peace accord has fallen apart due to the lack of trust and goodwill on one or both sides. Bosnian Serbs are a prime example of how not to go about looking for peace. Benjamin Netanyahu's Israel is another classic example of approaching "peace" with real bad intentions. On the other hand. South Africa is a perfect model for genuine peace and reconciliation.
In the Immediate future, the CHT accord may cost the ruling Awami League electorally. Executed In good faith, the accord will be very good for Bangladesh in the long run.