A procession demanding election to three district councils in Chittagong Hill Tracts parades the main streets of Khagrachhari town yesterday. PHOTO: BANGLAR CHOKH

Hundreds of processionists yesterday protested alleged corruption in the three hill district councils (HDCs) and demanded formation of fresh HDCs in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) through direct election.
A protest rally under the banner of “Parbatya Zila Parishad Nirbachon Dabi Committee” was held in the town following the procession that paraded the main streets.
In the rally, convener of the committee Nirapod Talukder said no election was held in three hill district councils in the last 17 years.
As a result, the HDCs are continuing their operations with interim councils. It was started by BNP-Jamaat led government in June 25, 1992 and is now being extended every 6 month. The caretaker and AL governments also formed similar interim councils to run the HDC activities.
Taking advantage of the situation, the interim council chairman and members misappropriated huge government funds while representation from both tribal and non-tribal at the HDCs were greatly hampered, he said.
Mohammad Shane Alam, member of the committee, said the HDCs have now become 'platform for rehabilitation of political leaders'.
Development in the hills has become a far cry as the three hill district councils are inactive, he said.
Among others, Ananta Bihari Khisa, Abdul Gafur Talukder and Bakul Chakma also addressed the rally.
Later, they handed over a memorandum to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina through Deputy Commissioner Abdullah demanding steps to resolve the issues.