The Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord Implementation Movement on Saturday called on the interim government to take urgent action for full implementation of the CHT accord signed in 1997.
It also demanded upholding rights of national minorities.
The movement made the calls at a press conference held at Dhaka Reporters Unity in the city.
The movement’s joint coordinator, Khairul Islam Chowdhury, who read the keynote speech, said that for 26 years, core elements of this treaty had remained largely unfulfilled, leaving the hill peoples and other national minority communities in a state of prolonged uncertainty.
‘The full and proper implementation of this accord is essential not only for the peace and stability of the CHT but also for the national unity of the country, and upholding dignity and rights of all national minorities,’ he added.
The movement demanded preparing a time-bound action plan to formulate a clear and actionable plan with specific deadlines and accountability mechanisms for the full CHT accord implementation, discontinuing military supervision in the region, empowering regional and district councils to address unique needs of the region, ensuring land rights and rehabilitation of internally displaced people and jhumiya families from India and promoting inclusion of the people in the mainstream economy and sustainable development plans.
Their other demands included reserving special seats for plain land national minority people in all local government bodies and establishing a separate land commission for plain land national minority groups to address their specific needs and challenges regarding lives, land, and livelihood.
To initiate the full implementation of these demands, the movement proposed immediate actions that the government can take.
The actions included immediate reconstitution of the CHT accord implementation committee, urgent reformation of the CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission, initiating unmediated and constructive dialouge with the regional council, reconstituting the advisory council to the CHT ministry to better reflect interests and representation of the hill peoples in accordance with the CHT accord, and establishing a dedicated commission to address the specific needs of plain land national minority communities.
The movement’s joint convener Jakir Hossain, Dhaka University professor Robaet Ferdous and Bangladesh Adivasi Forum finance scretary Myentthein Promila also spoke at the event.
