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Hills hope lies in treaty

Speakers tell Star roundtable development hinges onfall implementation of CHT accord

Dwaipayan Barua and Shantimoy Chakma, from Rangamati
Development in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) depends on complete Implementation of the CHT Peace Treaty, said representatives of a cross-section of people yesterday, including leaders of local indigenous and Bangalee communities.
They said resolution of local land disputes and administrative conflicts, end of discrimination in education and health sectors, and allocation of funds for local development arc also crucial.
They also emphasised on proper coordination between different local administrations like CHT Regional Council, Hill District Council, and district administrations for smooth solution to a variety of problems.
Demanding a complete withdrawal of all temporary military camps from CHT, they stressed on immediately setting up a timeframe for pulling out the remaining camps in line with the peace treaty.
The views were expressed at a roundtable titled 'Preserving Our Culture and Heritage, Facing the Dual Challenges of
Economic and Educational Development', organised by The Daily Star in the conference room of Rangamati District Sport Associationyesterdayaftemoon.
Leaders of local indigenous and Bangalee communities, and representatives of different political, cultural, business, and non-government organisations participated in the dialogue.
The speakers identified different problems that have been prevailing in CHT for long, and urged the government
SEE PAGE 15 COL 7 FROM PAGE 16 to address the issues with a democratic attitude.
Hailing the government for its recent decision of withdrawing from the region a brigade of the army and 35 of its temporary camps, Chakma King Devasish Roy said there is no need for military presence in the region, other than at as some risk}’ border areas, since the region is now free of any major violent conflict.
He said the prevailing land disputes in the region cannot be solved without reforming the Land Commission Act in line with the CHT Peace Treaty.
He also emphasised on reforming the District Council Act, and Regional Council Resolutions for smooth running of the local administrations.
Pointing to the near extinction of rich indigenous cultures and heritage due to the intervention of modern urban culture, Devasish urged for more government as well as media help in promoting their preservation.
Advocate Dipen Dewan. convener of BNP Rangamati District unit, urged the authorities to give more emphasis on the development of education and health sector in the CHT.
He blamed the inactivity of the District Council for not ensuring primary education through respective mother tongue of different indigenous groups.
Terming the land dispute a major problem in the area, former president of Rangamati Bar Association, Advocate Protim Roy. said hundreds of indigenous people who had returned from India are yet to get back their homes and are roaming in jungles for not addressing the land dispute issue by the authorities.
He underscored the need for immediate cadastral survey on the total land area of CHI before activating the Lind Commission.
Former president of Jhum Aesthetic Council Jhimit Jhimit Chakma told the roundtable that small indigenous communities like Khumi, Chak, and Mro are lagging behind as no government primary school could be set up in hard-to-reach areas inhabited by them.
Mongal Kumar Chakma. information and publicity secretary of Parbatiya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) central committee. emphasised formula-
lion of separate rules and regulations for different administrative organs including District Council, District Administration and CHT Regional Council for establishing democratic and good governance in the region.
He called upon the authorities to hand over the power of controlling local administration, police, land management system to the CHT Regional Council according to the peace accord.
Woman leader Tuku Talukder urged the authorities concerned to create separate reserved seats for the indigenous women fixing both at plain and hill land to ensure empowerment of indigenous women community.
President of Indigenous Timber Traders Association Avoy Prokash Chakma demanded of the government amend in the CHT Forest TYansit Rule-1973 for stopping the harassment by different law enforcement agencies and Forest Department in case of transporting timbers from CHT.
Rangamati Press Club President Sunil Kanti Dey said that the number of unregistered settlers is increasing day by day in CHT with arrival of people from different parts of the country.
Public Prosecutor of Rangamati Judges' Court Advocate Rafiqul Islam demanded for implementation of CHT Peace TYeaty as it was a legal deal to ensure peace in the hilly region.
Executive Director of Green Hill, a local NGO, Moung Thoai Ching urged for changing the existing populationbased budget allocation system as the poorer people are being neglected in this.
The roundtable was a part of a two-day long Celebrating Life Festival, a composite competition organised by The Daily Star and Standard Chartered Bank.
The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam, who moderated the event, said, "As a media, we are strongly committed to the rights of the indigenous people of the country."
He assured increased focus on different issues of the region to help promote overall development in CHT.
He also urged leaders of the indigenous communities to be more proactive in solving the existing problems, and to use the media for realising their rights.
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