Implemented sections of CHT Peace Accord should be honoured by all, says CHT secy
STAFF REPORTER
Moshiur Rahman NDC, secretary at the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, has said that everyone should follow and observe the implemented clauses of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord.
He made the remarks at an inter-ministerial meeting held at the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs meeting room in the Bangladesh Secretariat on Thursday (September 7) afternoon.
The Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs was established on July 15, 1998, several months after the CHT Peace Accord was signed on December 2, 1997.
Mr Rahman said that out of the Accord’s 72 sections, 65 sections have already been implemented and work on the remaining 7 sections is nearing completion.
According to the CHT Peace Accord and the Three Hill District Council Act, there is a reference to the transfer of various government affairs or departments to the Hill District Council, he said.
Accordingly, the work of 30 departments or organizations of the government has been transferred to the three hill district councils, the CHT secretary said.
Of them, Rangamati Hill District Council accounts for 30 subjects or departments, Khagrachari Hill District Council for 29 and Bandarban Hill District Council for 28, according to him.
However, the communication, land, police (local), and environment conservation and development or forest departments have not been transferred under Hill District Council till date, he said.
The CHT Peace Accord Implementation Monitoring Committee has discussed and taken decisions on these issues at different times, Mr Rahman noted.
Representatives from various organisations requested to convene several more meetings to resolve the issue.
The CHT secretary said that the government is determined to fully implement the Peace Accord.
He concluded the meeting by urging all the representatives to attend the next meeting wholeheartedly to implement the Accord.
The CHT Peace Accord was signed with the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti on December 2, 1997 under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
