Problem solving requires cultural understanding

It is impossible to resolve Chittagong Hill Tracts' (CHT) problems without understanding the life and culture of indigenous communities, speakers yesterday told the launching ceremony of a book, “Parbatya Chttagram-Bon Paharer Sat-Satero”.

The problems have to be resolved politically, they added at the programme organised by the publisher, the CHT affairs ministry, at Officers' Club Dhaka.

The ministry's initiative will spread knowledge on the CHT region's history, culture, politics and environment, helping to bridge the gap between residents of the hills and plain land, they said.

The book contains 19 Bangla and 11 English articles on historic and current affairs written by eminent academicians, politicians, civil and military bureaucrats, journalists and other professionals.

Secretary to the ministry Naba Bikram Kishore Tripura planned and edited the book.

Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique said there was no conflict between residents of the two regions and that groups with vested interests were creating the division.

Prof Mesbah Kamal said despite being a part of the anti-colonial movement and fighting against the Pakistani occupation army during the 1971 Liberation War, contributions of indigenous people of CHT were not recognised duly.

M Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the ministry, unveiled the book. State Minister for CHT affairs Bir Bahadur U Shoi Shing was in the chair.