'Anti-constitution' aspects of CHT peace deal needs review
MK Anwar tells JS
UNB, Dhaka
The minister in charge of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs in parliament MK Anwar yesterday told the House that some provisions of the CHT peace accord which are inconsistent with the constitution needed to be reviewed. Those provisions, he said, would be placed before the House for consideration. Replying to a supplementary question from Mehidi Ahmed Rumi (BNP), the minister said apart from such inconsistent provisions in the accord, signed by the previous Awami League government, the government has been implementing the peace accord. Anwar said many provisions of the CHT accord, specially those about the Ministry of CHT Affairs, CHT Regional Council, rehabilitation of tribal refugees, have been implemented. He said preparation for the voters' list in the CHT could not be compiled because of a court stay order. Replying to another question from Maj (retd) Manjur Kader (BNP), the minister admitted that there were problems in carrying out development works in the CHT because of the existence of two conflicting groups one favouring implementation of the peace accord and the other opposing it. Anwar told the House that in 2003-04 fiscal year under the Annual Development Programme different projects amounting to Tk 136.57 crore have been taken up in the three hill districts. Besides, different donors and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are carrying out uplift schemes in the CHT, he added.
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