People’s sovereignty may resolve disputes in CHT
Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed:
Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) is a naturally attractive and vital region in Bangladesh’s southeast. The three districts are Khagrachhari, Rangamati, and Bandarban. The Chittagong Hill Tracts are home to several ethnic groups, including the Bengali and some other tribal groups like Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Murong, and otherss. The geographical terrain of the Chittagong Hill Tracts has a number of political, social, economic, and environmental challenges that have influenced how people live in the region over time. The history of the Chittagong Hill Tracts has a long and complex political context. During British administration, the territory was handled autonomously, but this changed with the formation of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Following Bangladesh’s independence in 1971, the government’s ties with the ethnic groups of the Chittagong Hill Tracts intensified. Essentially, the battle for the creation of rights began, resulting in military confrontations in the region during the 1980s. After the independence of Bangladesh, the government’s relationship with the ethnic groups of the Chittagong Hill Tracts became challenging.
The tribal people launched protests and movements to defend their cultural, political, and land rights. The movement turned into an armed struggle in the 1980s, threatening national security, and the government of Bangladesh deployed the military for regional development and security. However, to resolve this situation, the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord was signed in 1997. The main objectives of the treaty were to protect the cultural and political rights of the tribal people, provide land rights, and establish national security and regional peace.
Chittagong Hill Tracts is a place that combines beauty and nature with mountainous diversity. An unbiased commission may be set up and can be helpful in land reform by retaining governmental ownership of a major portion of this terrain. There would be no controversy or adverse situations if the commission acted impartially. Even if there is a discrepancy, the local government authority may take efforts to address any dispute. This will foster a sense of trust among all inhabitants.
Steps need to be taken to develop a land policy based on justice, equality, and ensuring the demand of all people. After the formulation of the state policy based on the practical ideas, they must be implemented through the state and social contract program. This may promote peace and harmony among all communities. Although a commission was constituted in the past to carry out the ideas expressed in the peace accord, no actual reflection of it was seen. As a result, the seeds of hatred, agony, and pain have blossomed among the locals, manifesting as a big problem. Aside from that, a group of people, as influential members of society, have expanded their greedy eyes to land and other areas of interest. Some of them include government officials, contractors, businessmen, politicians, and members of various powerful circles. In the long run, the existing land system has skyrocketed, and ownership of many highland areas has transferred to the opportunists and elite sector of society. This has resulted in disputes and other social issues among the population. The hill people including the Bengali community have experienced a variety of societal injustices and prejudices. Conflicts among various groups, classes, and communities have become more and more intense. Political power has warped class interests. The aggressive group conflicts are gradually getting entangled in the naked cauldron of aggression. Consequently, the lives of the locals have been affected.
The political parties in the hills are split into sections and are actively involved in clashes among the groups. One example is the creation of UPDF, which was the first to challenge the dominance of the strong JSS (Santularma). The JSS (Reformists) are the second faction. However, the UPDF’s founders’ actions have also gotten out of hand. The UPDF (Democratic) is a revolutionary group inside the UPDF. In the Ramgati district during the 2019 by-election, the UPDF (Proshitkhisa) and JSS (Santularma) were responsible for several fatalities in the crossfire of terrorists following the election convoy returning from poll duty. The JSS (Santularma) and UPDF (Prositkhisa) commanders and activists have dispersed as a result of the security forces’ operation. Although the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord was a historic event as acclaimed by the past government, it did not reflect the full aspirations of all people. The agreement was not properly implemented in several areas, such as land rights, cultural protection, and the allocation of political power. In addition to securing their political and cultural rights, tribal people also sought to secure economic development prospects. However, these problems have not yet been fully resolved. To ensure the successful implementation of the peace accord and the fulfillment of the hopes of the tribal people, the government needs to take more concrete steps and ensure the participation of the local people irrespective of tribes and Bengali settlers. In the absence of appropriate coordination between the objectives of the peace accord and the ambitions and dreams of all people irrespective of caste and creed, the promises of this deal will remain unfulfilled.
However, if the government and local people work together, cultural and environmental protection as well as infrastructural development is carried out, and it is possible to ensure peace and development in the region. We have been hearing for a long time that the Chittagong Hill Tracts are in turmoil and various conflicts and terrorist groups are disturbing the peace of the local population for their influence. In this context, there is a question between civilized society and peace-loving people today. Why is the Chittagong Hill Tracts so restless? What interests are hidden behind the problems and beneficiaries of the Chittagong Hill Tracts? However, it is possible to establish security and lasting peace in the Chittagong Hill Tracts only by reflecting the wishes of all patriotic people living in the region.
(The writer is former Deputy Director General, Bangladesh Ansar and VDP).
