THE first and only election of three district councils in Chittagong Hill Tract (CHT) was held in 1989. At that time these were known as Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban Local Government Councils. Since then 27 years have passed. Peace Treaty was signed between Bangladesh government and Jana Sanghati Samity (Political wing of Armed Tribal Insurgent Group Santi Bahini) in 1997. According to this Treaty the highest body of Local Government in Chittagong Hill Tract was formed namely the Regional Council. Under it, three district councils were formed and as per new provision elections to the District Councils and Regional Council were to be held in every five years. But a report in a national daily on Friday said no such elections were held to these local councils both before the Peace Treaty was signed and there is no sign that such elections would be held soon.
It appears that the local councils have become the domain of tribal leaders and their opposition to include Bengalee settlers in CHT in the voter list is making such elections practically to be out of sight. It appears that under the Peace Treaty of 1997 the jurisdiction of three CHT councils is much wider than other 61 District Councils of the country. But there is no accountability as these bodies are not formed with elected persons. The government is nominating one chairman and 15 members of each District Council turning their office virtually into the den of ruling party men where corruption and misuse of government fund is often causing factional feuds. Moreover uncertainty to holding elections to the District Councils and Regional Council due to complication with voters list is denying the people of the CHT regions to elect their own public representatives to see for a change. The fact is that settlers in CHT are registered voters for National Elections along with local Upazila and Union Parishad elections. But Jono Shanghati Samity’s (JSS) which is one of the two parties of the Peace Treaty of 1997 condition that only tribal residents of three CHT districts has made the situation complex.
We want peace and harmony in three CHT like any other parts of the country. We also want that the tribal people of the hill districts should get equal opportunity, protection of their life and ownership on land so that they can live in dignity. But these cannot be achieved denying equal rights to Bengalee settlers who are living from the past. We must say they can’t be discriminated. We call for immediate resolution of the voters’ problem to hold elections as soon as possible. People must be allowed to vote to run the local bodies by their elected representatives.
It appears that the local councils have become the domain of tribal leaders and their opposition to include Bengalee settlers in CHT in the voter list is making such elections practically to be out of sight. It appears that under the Peace Treaty of 1997 the jurisdiction of three CHT councils is much wider than other 61 District Councils of the country. But there is no accountability as these bodies are not formed with elected persons. The government is nominating one chairman and 15 members of each District Council turning their office virtually into the den of ruling party men where corruption and misuse of government fund is often causing factional feuds. Moreover uncertainty to holding elections to the District Councils and Regional Council due to complication with voters list is denying the people of the CHT regions to elect their own public representatives to see for a change. The fact is that settlers in CHT are registered voters for National Elections along with local Upazila and Union Parishad elections. But Jono Shanghati Samity’s (JSS) which is one of the two parties of the Peace Treaty of 1997 condition that only tribal residents of three CHT districts has made the situation complex.
We want peace and harmony in three CHT like any other parts of the country. We also want that the tribal people of the hill districts should get equal opportunity, protection of their life and ownership on land so that they can live in dignity. But these cannot be achieved denying equal rights to Bengalee settlers who are living from the past. We must say they can’t be discriminated. We call for immediate resolution of the voters’ problem to hold elections as soon as possible. People must be allowed to vote to run the local bodies by their elected representatives.
