City Desk :
Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Minister Bir Bahadur Ushaising today said despite many obstacles, the current government is working earnestly towards the full implementation of the peace agreement. “The full implementation of the CHT Agreement is an ongoing process…The government is firmly committed to establishing peace in the CHT and improving the quality of life of the hill dwellers through the full implementation of this agreement by taking all parties into confidence,” he said, reports BSS. He said this as the chief guest at a discussion titled ‘Socio-economic development of Bangladesh and hilly regions on the platform of prosperity’ on the occasion of the 24th anniversary of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs at the Secretariat, said a press release. Secretary of Chittagong Hill Tract Affairs Ministry Mosammat Hamida Begum presided over the meeting.
“Under the bold and capable leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the historic Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Agreement was signed on December 2, 1997, ending the long bloody conflict in the region and the development journey began,” he said.
“As a result, the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs was created on July 15, 1998, since its inception, this ministry has been working tirelessly to improve the quality of life of the hill dwellers, he added. Bir Bahadur also said that hilly areas have only three percent cultivable areas. The government has given special priority to the socio-economic development of all people through poverty alleviation in order to develop the economy here.
To this end, CHT Ministry along with the concerned ministries and other development agencies are implementing various development programs and activities, he said.
“The government is working to improve the socio-economic conditions of CHT including poverty alleviation, socio-economic development, education, health, agriculture, social security, mixed fruit garden and spice farming, refugee resettlement, electricity, communication, infrastructure development, capacity building, sports and cultural practices,” he said.
