Situation might go out of hand in CHT

The situation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) will go out of control if its problems are not addressed properly, said Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, chairman of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) yesterday.
The government has not realised the situation in CHT. The future of the indigenous people has become uncertain as they are leading an insecure life with their back against the wall, said Jyotirindra, popularly known as Santu Larma.
“This cannot continue indefinitely. Aggrieved people might either want to live with honour or accept their fate,” he told a discussion organised in the capital's Parliament Members' Club.
Parliamentary Caucus on Indigenous People organised the discussion marking the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, to be observed on August 9, with assistance of International Labour Organization, Research and Development Collective and Oxfam.
Mentioning Saturday's arson attack on indigenous people at Matiranga and Khagrachhari which displaced 200 people, Santu said the government was not sincere in implementing the CHT Peace Accord, 1997.
Criticising the military presence in the CHT region and attitude of most government bureaucrats towards implementing the accord, Santu said “Islamisation” in the CHT, started by the Pakistan government, was still going on.
Prof Mesbah Kamal, coordinator of the caucus' technical committee, presented international treaties and agreements which helped establish indigenous people's rights around the world.
He said land to indigenous people was not just property but a part of their culture, lifestyle and livelihood.
Mainuddin Khan Badal, a member of the caucus, said having no accord was better that a bad or unimplemented accord and that the prime minister should give thought to implementing the accord as her government had signed the treaty.
Industries Minister Dilip Barua, the caucus Convener Rashed Khan Menon and State Minister for Social Welfare Promod Mankin were present.