THE lack of government’s desire over holding elections to the regional council and the three District Councils in Chattogram Hill Tracts has long been depriving indigenous people of their right to have elected representatives in the local bodies. News media reported that for almost two decades, the District Councils have been running by selected persons of the ruling parties. As a result, the absence of elected public representatives in the councils is hampering the public-oriented services in the region.
Experts said election to the councils should be held within the shortest possible time to help fully implement the Peace Accord and allow the indigenous people to enjoy a special ruling system. The first local government councils were introduced in Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban in 1989, 18 years after the country’s independence. The only election to the councils was held same year. As elections to the District Councils were not held in the last 26 years, the councils have no accountability to the indigenous people who are deprived of various government benefits. The aim was that the councils would provide a certain group of people with a “comfort zone” to resolve their pending issues and also the sense that they themselves were ruling the region. But it did not happen.
Making the CHT District Councils and regional council effective is very much essential for the wellbeing of the hill people. Dipankar Talukdar, a former state minister for CHT Affairs, said during his tenure he had sent several letters to the then Chief Election Commissioner, requesting him to take initiative for the polls. The EC did not show any “visible interest” in the elections.
The people of CHT must be assured a sense of participation in their own affairs. The elections of councils must be held. The fear of force is not the way to win people.
