People from national minority groups on Wednesday in Khagrachari participated in the ‘March for Identity’, demanding the full implementation of the 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord and constitutional recognition of their identities.
The Hill Students Movement against Discrimination and Conflict organised the rally, which began at Khagrachari Government College and ended at Chengi Square.Â
Their demands included creating a roadmap to ensure a democratic environment in the CHT, addressing land-related issues, holding district council elections by creating a voter list of local people according to the CHT Accord, and reinstating a five per cent quota for national minorities in the first and second class government jobs.
They also demanded appointing skilled and eligible teachers in schools in Rangamati, Khagrachari, and Bandarban, ensuring primary school education in the students’ respective mother tongues, and ending the use of the region as a ‘punishment zone’ for government job holders.
Witnesses said that thousands of people from different walks of life representing national minority groups in the hill district joined the rally against discriminations against them.
