UNB, Dhaka :
Assuring whatever necessary for socio-economic development of the CHT region, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday directed all concerned to give special attention so that good air of peace (shantir shubatash) prevails there and people get its benefit alongside ensuring their socio-economic development.
“For about two decades, people of that region have suffered… it’s enough. Since we’ve struck the CHT Peace Accord, now all (concerned) would have to give special attention so that good air of peace prevails there and people get its benefit… ensure their overall socio-economic development,” she added.
In this regard, Hasina asked the Ministry of CHT Affairs to come up promptly with development projects to ensure socio-economic development of this region since the aim of her government is to ensure overall development of the CHT region.
The PM’s directives came during her introductory speech before the high officials of the Ministry of CHT Affairs and its various bodies at the Ministry conference room in the secretariat.
State Minister for CHT Affairs Bir Bahadur and Secretary Nabo Bikram Kishore Tripura also spoke on the occasion.
Mentioned that the big problem in the CHT region was related to land, land disputes and rights on lands, Hasina said necessary initiatives have already been taken to this end as a Land Commission has been formed and the problem could be re solved with the cooperation of all.
“Bangladesh is also the home of those hilly people who live in the CHT region… their rights on land should be ensured since they are the citizens of the country and it’s the reality,” she said, hoping that the Ministry of CHT Affairs would take proper steps to this end.
The Prime Minister said that the then opposition party, BNP, opposed the CHT Peace Treaty signed on December 2, 1997, and they called hartal on the day when the Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity, the political organisation that controlled the Shanti Bahini militia, surrendered arms to the government on February 10, 1998.
Even, she alleged, several thousand Indian flags were also made then to show that the CHT region has gone to India, but the attempt was foiled due to the vigilance of the intelligence forces.
Hasina said that, with the signing of the Peace Accord in 1997 following the initiative of an all-party parliamentary committee, headed by the then Chief Whip Abul Hasnat Abdullah, some 64,000 refugees returned from India and they were rehabilitated and given jobs in various forces including police and Ansar.
Noting that the insurgency in the hill region was very unfortunate for a nation like Bangladesh, she said: “We signed the (peace) accord on our own,” The Prime Minister said that although there are some problems with regard the law on land, positive discussion was going on, and it is hoped an understanding would be reached soon.
Assuring whatever necessary for socio-economic development of the CHT region, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday directed all concerned to give special attention so that good air of peace (shantir shubatash) prevails there and people get its benefit alongside ensuring their socio-economic development.
“For about two decades, people of that region have suffered… it’s enough. Since we’ve struck the CHT Peace Accord, now all (concerned) would have to give special attention so that good air of peace prevails there and people get its benefit… ensure their overall socio-economic development,” she added.
In this regard, Hasina asked the Ministry of CHT Affairs to come up promptly with development projects to ensure socio-economic development of this region since the aim of her government is to ensure overall development of the CHT region.
The PM’s directives came during her introductory speech before the high officials of the Ministry of CHT Affairs and its various bodies at the Ministry conference room in the secretariat.
State Minister for CHT Affairs Bir Bahadur and Secretary Nabo Bikram Kishore Tripura also spoke on the occasion.
Mentioned that the big problem in the CHT region was related to land, land disputes and rights on lands, Hasina said necessary initiatives have already been taken to this end as a Land Commission has been formed and the problem could be re solved with the cooperation of all.
“Bangladesh is also the home of those hilly people who live in the CHT region… their rights on land should be ensured since they are the citizens of the country and it’s the reality,” she said, hoping that the Ministry of CHT Affairs would take proper steps to this end.
The Prime Minister said that the then opposition party, BNP, opposed the CHT Peace Treaty signed on December 2, 1997, and they called hartal on the day when the Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity, the political organisation that controlled the Shanti Bahini militia, surrendered arms to the government on February 10, 1998.
Even, she alleged, several thousand Indian flags were also made then to show that the CHT region has gone to India, but the attempt was foiled due to the vigilance of the intelligence forces.
Hasina said that, with the signing of the Peace Accord in 1997 following the initiative of an all-party parliamentary committee, headed by the then Chief Whip Abul Hasnat Abdullah, some 64,000 refugees returned from India and they were rehabilitated and given jobs in various forces including police and Ansar.
Noting that the insurgency in the hill region was very unfortunate for a nation like Bangladesh, she said: “We signed the (peace) accord on our own,” The Prime Minister said that although there are some problems with regard the law on land, positive discussion was going on, and it is hoped an understanding would be reached soon.
