Trouble in CHT

DURING the last 38 years, Bangladesh governments signed a number of agreements. Regrettably, none of these agreements brought satisfactory results. It is unfortunate that we could not bring peace to the Chittagong Hill Tracts, despite our continuous efforts for a peaceful settlement with its indigenous people.
These indigenous people have stated that Bangalee settlers are burning their houses without provocation. They said that the real trouble started when settlers were allowed to build houses on indigenous lands during caretaker rule.
Opposition parties, particularly the BNP, have to play a critical role. Unfortunately, rather than suggest a workable and acceptable solution, the opposition party lost no time in pointing out the AL government's faults during the treaty in its 1996-2001 tenure.
Peace in CHT is essential for the overall economic development of Bangladesh. It can be attained if all political parties and India, whose indigenous people of seven states remain in touch with our indigenous people, cooperate closely. Armed force deployment may never solve this sensitive problem, and instead, may create bigger problems, if not properly handled. Incidents, like burning of the Lord Buddha statue, will certainly be taken seriously taken by our country's Buddhists.
The CHT problem actually started from President Zia's regime, when Bangalees were encouraged to settle in CHT, and some Bangalee entrepreneurs were given land to develop rubber plantations there, without properly consulting those concerned. After all, people are considered subjects in a dictatorial regime.
Measures taken during the Zia regime generated fear amongst the indigenous that the then-Bangladesh government would throw them out of CHT. Settlers, mainly illiterate, poor and unskilled, took undue advantage over them, closely supported by the army.
This situation did not continue for long. The indigenous organised into various groups; the strongest of these was Shanti Bahini, a group of armed guerillas. They regularly collected taxes from government organisations to defray expenses for operations against government army.
The last 38 years have proved we are not good negotiators. Furthermore, our armed forces are not trained negotiators. If we had real democratic rule, the CHT problem would have been solved long ago. Acceding to the BNP proposal of deploying the army again will make the situation messy.
A concerned parliamentary committee might now analyse the CHT Accord to find loopholes in the document. Simultaneously, the PM may enquire about killing indigenous people in the Baghaichari firings to find out whether army personnel were excessive. Offenders among the Bangalee settlers must be caught and punished. The concerned minister and the prime minister may also look into the problem with the Hill Tracts land commission. They may also look into any administrative lapses.
Incidents like at Baghaichari create a bad image abroad, and may give the wrong signal about the government's handling of minority affairs. Thus, the government, without waiting for long, may prefer rapid action to restore peace and the confidence of the CHT people.

A.B.M.S. Zahur is a former joint secretary.