'Solidarity between Bangalees, hill people a must for CHT dev’
Our Correspondent, Rangamati
Speakers at a seminar here have underlined the need for solidarity and confidence building between hill people and Bangalees to ensure peace and development in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).They urged the leaders of Bangalee settlers and indigenous people to work for fostering mutual respect and trust among the people in the hills. The seminar on 'Prevention of conflict and promotion of solidarity and development in the Hill Tracts' was jointly organised by national daily Amar Desh and news magazine Probe at Rangamati Tribal Culture Institute on Saturday. Former chief election commissioner Justice Md Abdur Rouf addressed the seminar as chief guest while former advisor to caretaker government Subimol Dewan was the special guest. Journalist Mahfuz Ullah moderated the function. Irtiza Nasim Ali, editor of Probe, delivered the welcome address. The speakers said poverty is the main cause of all crises and it always obstructs ways to resolving problems. Poverty is increasing day by day among all communities in CHT which is making the situation complex, they added. The speakers said the leaders of Bangalees and indigenous communities should realise this and work together to improve relations among all communities and change the lot of the people. They said peace is destroyed by some vested quarters to achieve their personal gains and as such people in the hill irrespective of their origins should guard against the evil elements for their own interest. Prof Dr Tareque Shamsur Rehman of Jahangirnagar University, Amar Desh Editor Amanullah Kabir, Ramgarh Pourasabha Chairman Belayet Hossain, Bandarban Press Club President and Editor of weekly Chimbuk Badsha Miah, Rangamati Press Club President Sunil Kanti Dey, Sukumar Dewan and Konka Chakma also spoke at the seminar.
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