Govt to implement CHT Peace Agreement
Syed Abul Maksud speaks at a discussion on 'Human rights of minority and indigenous people: Post-election thoughts' at the National Press Club yesterday. On his right is Prof Serajul Islam Chowdhury and on his left are Prof Ajoy Roy, State Minister for CHT Affairs Dipankar Talukder and lawmaker Promod Mankin. Photo: STAR
The government has taken initiative to implement the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Agreement, State Minister for CHT Affairs Dipankar Talukder said yesterday.
The government has started the process of forming a committee to this end and has been seeking suggestions on ways to implement the peace accord gradually, he said at a seminar.
"The government will also bring amendments to the land commission law within one or two months to ensure the indigenous people's right to land," he said, adding that it is not possible to implement the peace accord without resolving the land issue.
Samprity, a non-government organisation, organised the seminar on 'Human rights of minority and indigenous people: Post-election thoughts' at the National Press Club in the city.
Speakers at the seminar called on the government to immediately implement the peace agreement and give constitutional recognition to the indigenous people to ensure their basic rights.
To implement the peace accord, the first thing the government should do is to withdraw military camps from CHT and allow the local administration to work freely, said Prof Ajoy Roy, who presided over the seminar.
Prof Serajul Islam Chowdhury stressed the need to establish true democracy in order to remove all forms of discriminations against the minority.
Decentralisation of power is a must to ensure the rights of all community, he added.
Prof Dr Shaorav Sikder presented the keynote paper.
Lawmaker Promod Mankin, Prof Robayat Ferdous, Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity leader Ushatan Talukder, Gono Forum leader Pankaj Bhattacharya and columnist Syed Abul Maksud also spoke.
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