UNDP begins work in hills July 1

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will begin the first phase of its development work in five upazilas of three hill districts on July 1.

Initially, the UNDP had six upazilas in its development programme but put Matiranga upazila in Khagrachhari on hold out of 'concern'.

The authorities will soon decide on Matiranga after review, Michael Heyn, director of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Facility (CHTDF), told the press at the IDB Bhaban yesterday.

The press briefing, also attended by UNDP Resident Representative Jorgen Lissner, came after some newspapers ran reports that the UNDP had dropped Matiranga from the development list following criticism by the selection committee.

The UNDP officials said the committee, with the Hill District Council chairperson as its head, selected the places for development and the UNDP had nothing to do with that.

Unwilling to specify the dispute over Matiranga, the officials said they are "not referees but facilitators" of Bangladesh.

They said the UNDP did not have any problem with CHT Regional Council Chairman Shantu Larma, who, in his speech at the inauguration of CHTDF office in Rangamati on June 14, described the UNDP risk-assessment report on the region as an obstacle to development.

"We have discussed with Larma. We don't have to agree on all points. But we have so many common concerns," said Lissner. He said Larma bargained as a good politician.

The UNDP has also informed the United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF) about its programme, Lissner said.

The UNDP will carry out primary development activities in 20 paras in each of the five upazilas -- Bandarban Sadar, Thanchi in Bandarban, Rangamati Sadar, Belaichhari in Rangamati and Pachari in Khagrachhari. The first phase of development work will run on a fund of $5 million.