Parbatya Chattagram Jono Sanghaty Samity (PCJSS) Chief Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma yesterday said time has come to wage a tougher movement to protect the existence of ethnic people in one hand and to realise their rights as 'citizens of Bangladesh' on the other.

He was addressing the inaugural session of a three-day council of PCJSS that began at TukTuk Eco Village, some 25 km off the district town of Rangamati, in the morning.

Larma is likely to announce the programme of the movement during the council to protect the existence of what he said "endangered" indigenous people residing in Chittagong Hill Tracts.

He blamed the government for step-mother-like attitude towards the indigenous people that are being marginalised day by day.

"The government agencies responsible for maintaining law and order in the region often treat us as non-citizens while the ruling politi-

cians consider this region as a colony within the country", he alleged.

Larma said, "Although we are the citizens of this country by generation, we are deprived of our rights in one hand and our sentiments are being hurt on the other due to colonial treatment by the rulers."

He said the CHT peace treaty was signed in 1997 to ensure an honourable life for ethnic people by giving them an opportunity to receive adequate livelihood, education, health and development supports from the government.

"But we are simply disappointed by the fact that during the last eight years neither the past government nor its successor implemented the accord," he said in frustration.

Presided over by PCJSS leader Amyo Sen Chakma, the inaugural session was also addressed by Goutam Kumar Chakma, Kolpana Chakma, Uzzal Chakma, Mewoching Marma, Surendralal Chakma, Dhiro Kumar Chakma, Nilima Chakma and Bimol Kanti Chakma.