UNB, Dhaka :
The International Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission (CHTC) has expressed deep concern over re-imposition of restrictions on the indigenous communities of CHT through a circular issued by the Home Ministry April 23, 2015.
The circular requires inter alia that any national or foreign individual or organisation willing to visit CHT for research or to hold any meeting in the region must obtain prior government approval providing
detailed agenda of discussion, date, time, venue, list of possible participants, justification, etc.
Such restrictions, involving security and intelligence agencies, are not only contradictory to the CHT Peace Accord but also constitute gross violation of fundamental rights of the indigenous people, particularly free movement, freedom of speech and freedom of association, according to a CHTC statement.
The CHTC urged the government to immediately withdraw the restrictions, and refrain from any such measures in the future and take concrete steps to implement the Peace Accord.
On February 15 this year, the CHTC issued another statement expressing similar concern about an earlier Home Ministry circular which was widely considered by stakeholders, including civil society and the media to be racist, discriminatory, unconstitutional and tantamount to stripping fundamental freedoms of the indigenous people.
In response to widespread protests, the Home Ministry had decided to withdraw on March 23 last.
The International Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission (CHTC) has expressed deep concern over re-imposition of restrictions on the indigenous communities of CHT through a circular issued by the Home Ministry April 23, 2015.
The circular requires inter alia that any national or foreign individual or organisation willing to visit CHT for research or to hold any meeting in the region must obtain prior government approval providing
detailed agenda of discussion, date, time, venue, list of possible participants, justification, etc.
Such restrictions, involving security and intelligence agencies, are not only contradictory to the CHT Peace Accord but also constitute gross violation of fundamental rights of the indigenous people, particularly free movement, freedom of speech and freedom of association, according to a CHTC statement.
The CHTC urged the government to immediately withdraw the restrictions, and refrain from any such measures in the future and take concrete steps to implement the Peace Accord.
On February 15 this year, the CHTC issued another statement expressing similar concern about an earlier Home Ministry circular which was widely considered by stakeholders, including civil society and the media to be racist, discriminatory, unconstitutional and tantamount to stripping fundamental freedoms of the indigenous people.
In response to widespread protests, the Home Ministry had decided to withdraw on March 23 last.
