What BNP, Jamaat pledge for CHT in election manifestos

STAFF REPORTER

Both BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami have addressed the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in their election manifestos, promising equal rights, improved public services and security for communities living in the region.

On the CHT Peace Accord, BNP says it will “review” the 1997 agreement, while Jamaat says it will “reform” it.

WHAT BNP SAYS

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman announced the party’s manifesto on February 6 at a programme at Hotel Sonargaon in the capital. 

The party says it wants to reflect the hopes and aspirations of hill residents, improve living standards and ensure safety. 

At the top of its CHT-related pledges, BNP places security and rights protection for all citizens, including small ethnic communities in both the hills and plains, regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity, religion or race. 

It pledges protection of life, property and dignity, alongside constitutionally guaranteed social, political, cultural, economic and religious rights.

The manifesto also says BNP will establish a Directorate of Ethnic Communities Development to protect the languages, literature and cultural heritage of ethnic groups across the country and support their overall development.

On peace and post-conflict recovery, BNP says it will review the 1997 Peace Accord with the participation of all relevant stakeholders. 

It also pledges confidence-building measures and a social rehabilitation programme to help members of all groups leave conflict behind and return to normal life.

On services and livelihoods, BNP promises to modernise the district hospitals in Khagrachhari, Rangamati and Bandarban, and says it will prioritise investment in hill products, handicrafts and eco-tourism to create jobs for local youth. 

It also pledges special programmes for youth skill development, the establishment of special economic zones, and the development of agro-eco-tourism zones by encouraging private-sector participation, centring them on the region’s natural beauty. 

The manifesto further promises to gradually bring eligible people from small ethnic communities in the hills and plains under full social protection coverage.

WHAT JAMAAT SAYS

Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman announced his party’s manifesto on February 4, saying Jamaat wants to narrow the “hills-plains” divide and remove hostility linked to such distinctions. 

In its written manifesto, the party sets out four areas of commitments for the CHT, saying these plans aim to reflect hill residents’ aspirations, improve living standards and ensure security.

Jamaat says it will take initiatives to reform the CHT Peace Accord to better reflect public expectations. 

It also promises special projects to improve access to education, healthcare, water and communications for residents, including small ethnic communities.

On cohesion and security, Jamaat says it will work to remove division and discrimination among hill residents and take all necessary steps to ensure overall security across the three hill districts of Khagrachhari, Rangamati and Bandarban.

During the manifesto announcement, Dr Shafiqur Rahman also pledged to ensure what he called the rightful dues of people living in the hills, arguing that deprivation and manipulation can be used to incite people and harm the country. 

Alleging that unrest persists in the region, he said he wants it to end and asked why so many security personnel had to die in the hills, who was behind it and what the causes were, adding that a rational solution would be found, “InshaAllah”.

WHAT THE NCP MANIFESTO SAYS

Ahead of the election, the NCP announced a 36-point manifesto on January 30. 

The manifesto does not include notable, specific promises on the hill areas, but it pledges to form a special cell within a human rights commission with independent investigative authority to resist religious hatred, communalism, minority oppression and discrimination or persecution based on identity.