Slow progress in land settlement

The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Land Commission held its meeting, fourth of its kind after the appointment of Chairman Anwar-ul Haque­, at Rangamati Circuit House in the district town yesterday.

Its first meeting was held on August 4 in 2016.

“Today's meeting discussed the ways to speed up the Commission's work. It sees slow progress as the Commission has shortage of manpower and the government is yet to make rules of business,” said Santu Larma, chairman of CHT Regional Council.

“Twenty-two thousand applications have been submitted from three hill districts. We will start hearing on the objections about land ownership soon if the government makes rules of business for the land commission,” the chairman said after the meeting that continued from 11:00am to 1:30pm.

He said the Commission has decided to open two branch offices in Rangamati and Bandarban.

Devashish Roy, Chakma circle chief, said, “Most of the families are yet to get settlement for their lost land. I hope that the Commission will work for solving the problem.”

Anwar-ul Haque was appointed the chairman of CHT Land Commission for the second term on December 11 last year, after expiry of his three-year contact at the same position.