Police to be deployed in CHT camps vacated by army: Home minister

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal today said police will be deployed in the camps left by the army in Chattogram Hill Tracts.

The government is doing this as per the peace treaty in an effort to bring back peace in the region, he said.

"We have to maintain the law and order… For this reason, we have decided to deploy police in those camps," he told reporters after an hour-long meeting at the home ministry with Parbatya Chattogram Jana Sanghati Samity President Jyotirindra Bodhipriyo Larma, popularly known as Shantu Larma.

The peace accord was signed on December 2, 1997, between the then Awami League government and Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity to bring an end to two decades of insurgency and unrest.

The home boss said there was continued bloodshed in the three hill districts, adding that the prime minister had directed the authorities concerned to take care of the areas.

"We have a report by an additional secretary on what is happening in which places in the three districts. There were some recommendations in it," he said.

Officials have talked with chairmen, elected representatives, MPs, people involved with maintaining peace, and other stakeholders from the three districts, he said.

He added that some parts of the peace accord have yet to be implemented.

"We discussed everything, every small issue, and Shantu Larma assured us that he will provide all kinds of assistance to us," said the home minister.

"We have informed Shantu Larma during the meeting about the deployment of police in the camps."

The districts in the hill tracts are governed like any other districts under the directives of the prime minister.

Since there is the issue of ensuring development in the region, Shantu Larma was invited to the meeting, he added.

"Shantu Larma mentioned some issues and said he would sit with us again.

"We would deploy modern police in the three districts so as to restore peace and order."

The home boss said he informed Shantu Larma that the government did not want killings and extortion in the region.