Reza Mahmud :
The Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord passed its 20 years today.
On December 2 in 1997, the government of Bangladesh and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS) signed the peace accord to bring end to the decades long terror activities of the then Shanti Bahini (now JSS).
The peace accord became helpful to bring changes in the lifestyles of the people on average.
But some sections of the peace accord are found contradictory to our Constitution.
The High court declared some sections as unconstitutional, but the appellate division stayed the High court order.
Experts have urged to amend some clauses and articles of the accord before full implementation.
The experts and the Bangalees living in CHT said, the Land Commission Amendment Act seriously challenges the power and jurisdictions of our government.
The Act was amended in 2016 in the Parliament under pressures of JSS President Jotirindra Bodhipriyo Larma alias Santu Larma.
Experts express anxiety at the amendment, saying, the most dangerous point is that the decisions of the Commission cannot be challenged in the courts, and that any dispute will be solved as per the rituals and customs of the tribes.
“In truth, the Amendment has created serious misunderstanding between the tribal people and the Bengalese. It was unnecessary to bring the Amendment because the laws of the country were enough to solve the disputes,” Justice Khadimul Islam, the former Chairman of CHT Land Commission told the New Nation.
Major General (rtd) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, an expert on CHT issues, told The New Nation, “Some sections and articles of the Land Commission Amendment Act diminish the government’s authority on the sovereignty of Bangladesh. If the government implements the Act, then the country might lose one tenth of it.”
Mehadi Hassan Palash, the Chairman of the CHT Research Foundation told The New Nation, “There are some articles in the accord seriously contradictory with our Constitution. In this circumstances, the review of the accord is very necessary right now. The government should search the reasons of non-implementations although two decades already elapsed.” Besides, the government and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS) disagreed about implementations of some portions. The government claimed that it had implemented 48 of 72 Sections of the accord, but JSS differed.
Santu Larma said, “There are 37 fundamental subjects in the accord. Of them, only four subjects are completely implemented, nine are partially done and rest 24 are totally unimplemented so far.”
He said it while addressing a press conference in this regards in a Hotel in the capital city on Wednesday (November 29, 2017).
He expressed disappointment at the slow progress of the accord.
Constructions of roads, culverts, hospitals, clinics, educational institutes, tourists infrastructures and other socio-economic development bring happiness for the people living in the CHT areas indiscriminately. The health services and electrifications have expanded.
The tribal and Bangalee people get benefit from the development.
But the disappointment also found among the people there about the accord. The Bangalees alleged that the accord discriminated them. They said that it had made them second class citizens as they called un-tribes people instead of Bangalee according to the accord.
On the other hand, some tribal groups opposing the accord saying it may not give them the rights they fight for long.
United Peoples’ Democratic Front (UPDF) and JSS (reforms) are claiming that only full autonomy can fulfill their desire. They are also involved in arms insurgency in the area. “When one of the signatories of the accord, Santu Larma is expressing disappointment at the accord then how can we become hopeful about it? We want only full autonomy of CHT to end all discriminations,” Niron Chakma, the spokesman of UPDF told The New Nation yesterday. When contacted Feroza Begum Chinu, the ruling party MP from Rangamati said, “Huge development occurred in CHT areas after the peace accord inked. Both the tribal and Bangalees are being benefited from it. We hope the advances of the areas will be smooth and continue.”
The Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord passed its 20 years today.
On December 2 in 1997, the government of Bangladesh and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS) signed the peace accord to bring end to the decades long terror activities of the then Shanti Bahini (now JSS).
The peace accord became helpful to bring changes in the lifestyles of the people on average.
But some sections of the peace accord are found contradictory to our Constitution.
The High court declared some sections as unconstitutional, but the appellate division stayed the High court order.
Experts have urged to amend some clauses and articles of the accord before full implementation.
The experts and the Bangalees living in CHT said, the Land Commission Amendment Act seriously challenges the power and jurisdictions of our government.
The Act was amended in 2016 in the Parliament under pressures of JSS President Jotirindra Bodhipriyo Larma alias Santu Larma.
Experts express anxiety at the amendment, saying, the most dangerous point is that the decisions of the Commission cannot be challenged in the courts, and that any dispute will be solved as per the rituals and customs of the tribes.
“In truth, the Amendment has created serious misunderstanding between the tribal people and the Bengalese. It was unnecessary to bring the Amendment because the laws of the country were enough to solve the disputes,” Justice Khadimul Islam, the former Chairman of CHT Land Commission told the New Nation.
Major General (rtd) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, an expert on CHT issues, told The New Nation, “Some sections and articles of the Land Commission Amendment Act diminish the government’s authority on the sovereignty of Bangladesh. If the government implements the Act, then the country might lose one tenth of it.”
Mehadi Hassan Palash, the Chairman of the CHT Research Foundation told The New Nation, “There are some articles in the accord seriously contradictory with our Constitution. In this circumstances, the review of the accord is very necessary right now. The government should search the reasons of non-implementations although two decades already elapsed.” Besides, the government and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS) disagreed about implementations of some portions. The government claimed that it had implemented 48 of 72 Sections of the accord, but JSS differed.
Santu Larma said, “There are 37 fundamental subjects in the accord. Of them, only four subjects are completely implemented, nine are partially done and rest 24 are totally unimplemented so far.”
He said it while addressing a press conference in this regards in a Hotel in the capital city on Wednesday (November 29, 2017).
He expressed disappointment at the slow progress of the accord.
Constructions of roads, culverts, hospitals, clinics, educational institutes, tourists infrastructures and other socio-economic development bring happiness for the people living in the CHT areas indiscriminately. The health services and electrifications have expanded.
The tribal and Bangalee people get benefit from the development.
But the disappointment also found among the people there about the accord. The Bangalees alleged that the accord discriminated them. They said that it had made them second class citizens as they called un-tribes people instead of Bangalee according to the accord.
On the other hand, some tribal groups opposing the accord saying it may not give them the rights they fight for long.
United Peoples’ Democratic Front (UPDF) and JSS (reforms) are claiming that only full autonomy can fulfill their desire. They are also involved in arms insurgency in the area. “When one of the signatories of the accord, Santu Larma is expressing disappointment at the accord then how can we become hopeful about it? We want only full autonomy of CHT to end all discriminations,” Niron Chakma, the spokesman of UPDF told The New Nation yesterday. When contacted Feroza Begum Chinu, the ruling party MP from Rangamati said, “Huge development occurred in CHT areas after the peace accord inked. Both the tribal and Bangalees are being benefited from it. We hope the advances of the areas will be smooth and continue.”
