***CHT is our heritage, our history and our soul. Let us protect and preserve CHT and its indigenous people; and let us hold them dearly to our hearts.***

WHAT happened on the night of February 19, and what followed thereafter in CHT are sad, unacceptable and unpardonable. CHT is an integral part of Bangladesh; but the greater truth is that for thousands of years CHT has been the home of indigenous CHT people, and it still belongs to them only. Let us not distort the history of CHT and its indigenous people in the name of national integration.

The seed of the CHT problem was sown with the implementation of the Kaptai Hydro Project. The indigenous people there could not fathom the impact of this project upon their life, livelihood, culture, heritage and sense of belonging. They were shell-shocked to find their capital, Rangamati, swallowed by the created lake, and their cultivable land and homes submerged forever. The

promised compensation for the affected was never delivered. Nobody ever calculated what the social and environmental impact upon the people there would be, and how the future generations would react.

The problem began to worsen with our perception of modern state and government, disregarding the inalienable rights and practices of the indigenous people. Our so-called "modern perception" is medieval and colonial. We think it is right and legal to acquire land and properties of the common people, especially farmers and non-privileged, in the name of state through decrees or confiscations — like the colonial masters of Africa, North and South America and Australia, where they not only took away the land and properties of the indigenous people through decrees but also decimated the people by destroying their civilisation and distinctive identity. The whole action is unethical, and is not

simply on in the 21 st century. No one has the right and authority to dispossess people of their life and livelihood.

To marginalise the indigenous people in CHT, the governments in the late seventies and early eighties sent people from certain districts to settle in different parts of CHT. Whose land were these settlers allotted? This was the worst blunder by the government. When the settlers started to grab more land than was allotted, disputes arose and the CHT indigenous people were compelled to take a stand to preserve their existence. This was followed by a military operation there to bring them to submission. What a mad decision! The result was a catastrophe. How on earth could Bangladesh wage a war upon its indigenous citizens in CHT when it itself had won freedom through a bloody war?

The indigenous people of CHT today belong to the new generation who are socially and politically more conscious about their history, culture, heritage and values, as well as the injustices meted out to them in the recent past. Decrees, batons and bullets will no more be able to subjugate this generation. Be sane and practical while dealing with the crisis in CHT.

Leave the CHT indigenous people undisturbed and let the settlers be happy with what the government has allotted

officially. Do not push a military solution. Implement the signed CHT peace accord sincerely and, if necessary, revise it.

Would you permit someone dispos-

sessed to sleep in your backyard? The answer is no. Then why not leave CHT to the indigenous people. The air, water, land and sky of CHT belong to them only. Nothing in CHT is for sale or takeover, when you ask for it you are asking them to give away their body and soul. This is too much.

The CHT indigenous people realise that the so-called development projects like Kaptai Hydro, KPM or forestry etc. have not benefited them at all. Why should they allow their resources to be exploited and ravaged without delivering any tangible benefit to them?

It is high time that the government initiates program to establish a university, a medial college and other similar institutions there to begin a true face lift of CHT. Let us make an honest beginning to assert that we mean it. Let us not try to teach them what is best for CHT, as the donor agencies tell us what is good for Bangladesh. CHT is our heritage, our history and our soul. Let us protect and preserve CHT and its indigenous people; andletushold them dearly to our hearts.

Dr. AK.M. Abdul Quader Is Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.