Marking the 17th anniversary of CHT Accord, on 2 December 2014, the PCJSS undertook several programmes including rallies, mass gatherings and discussionsat Upazila and District levels in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) including Dhaka and Chittagong with the slogan: “Resist all ill designs contravening CHT Accord and Anti-Jumma Peoples and Strengthen the CHT Accord Implementation Movement to Protect National existence, Land Rights of Jumma Peoples.” Besides, civil society organizations including government authorities also organized rallies and discussions on the occasion.
Dhaka: PCJSS organized discussion at Hotel Sundarban in Dhaka on 2 December 2014 at 10:00 am.Presided over by PCJSS President Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, the discussion was contributed, among others by Pankaj Bhattacharya, President Oikya Nap, Manjurul Ahsan Khan, advisor, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Syed Abul Maksud, eminent writer and columnist, Hajera Sultana, MP and polite bureau member of Workers’ Party of Bangladesh, Prof. Sadeka Halim, teacher of Dhaka University; Barrister Sara Hossain, member of International CHT Commission, Sanjeeb Drong, Seneral Secretary of Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples’ Forum and Robaet Ferdous, Associate Professor of Dhaka University.
Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alleged that the government had been spreading (wrong)misinformation about implementation of CHT Accord by claiming 48 sections of the Accord to have been implemented out of 72 in total. In fact, the government has implemented only 25 sectionsout of 72 sections of the Accord.The government has not been cordial, rather it nurtures an outlook ofultra-nationalism regarding implementation of the CHT Accord. He threw an ultimatum calling the government to declare an effective time schedule for implementation of the Accord by 30 April 2015.He said, “If the government does not undertake a time-line-based-effective initiative within 30 April 2015, PCJSS will start up (1) non-cooperation movement against the government and (2) all out resistance movement against anti-Accord and counter-Jumma-interest designs will be accelerated right from 1 May 2015.
Mr. Larma added that no election was held in the CHT Regional Council and the three Hill District Councils even though 17 years have passed since signing of the Accord. The CHT Regional Council has now been turned into a nomenclature; it has been made dysfunctional in exertion of its functions, duties and responsibilities as per the given law. He also alleged that the government had signed the CHT Accord apparently to disarm the indigenous peoples ? not to protect their rights. He mentioned that recently, conspiracy leading to illegal occupation of homesteads and religious shrines and sites of the Jumma peoples and their recorded and traditional lands has increased widely. At least 16 indigenous women had faced sexual harassment and abduction in September and November this year. Moreover, he criticized the army for setting up tourism centers and the BGB for establishing camps in the region by evicting indigenous people.
Pankaj Bhattacharya talked against the government plan to establish a science and technology university as well as a medical college in Rangamati; terming the move to be “a technique to establish more Bengalis in the hill region” he pointed out (alleging) that only the Bengali people would get jobs there.
Columnist Syed Abul Moksud alleged that the government was not implementing the CHT Accord responsibly since there is no financial benefit. The government gets money by signing agreements with the international donors. But this does not happen in that case. So, the CHT Accord exists only in (on) papers. He demanded for holding a special discussion with all parliament members (hold a special discussion in) over CHT issue and to decide before March 26 – the Independence Day.
Barrister Sara Hossain, Executive Director of Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, said that this is the month of victory. But it is a shame that the mainstream people cannot talk about the victory of the CHT people. How can a government deny the rights of at least 13 numbers of nationalities? She also criticized the government for not upholding secular practices. She also added: “CHT Commission faced attacks for many times ranging from settlers to law enforcers, who are all grabbing land of the hill peoples,” while being on efforts toobserve the situation.
Sanjeeb Drong, Secretary of Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum, said that the government has been applying different tricks for not implementing the CHT Accord. He hoped that the government would be honest from then on in executing the Accord.
Another day-long policy dialogue on “CHT Accord: Achievements, Lessons Learnt and the Way Forward” was jointly organized by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the CHT Affairs Ministry and the Parliamentary Caucus on Indigenous Peoples with support from Research and Development Collective, ManusherJonno Foundation, European Union, and UNDP at CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka on 2 December 2014.
In this dialogue, SyedaSajeda Chowdhury, Chairman of the CHT Accord Implementation Committee, said that implementation of the CHT Accord is a political pledge of the incumbent government, and it has taken many initiatives to this end.Terming the land disputes to be the major problem in CHT, she said that process of amending the CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission Act 2001 was underway.She added, “We have sought opinions from the Attorney General about whether it is possible to formulate separate electoral rolls for elections in (to) the CHT Regional Council and Hill District Councils.” She also urged all the concerned to have patience and to cooperatewith.
Law Commission Member Prof Shah Alam emphasized on stopping the process of Bengali settlements in CHT urgently.
Among others, Lawmaker from Rangamati constituency Ushatan Talukder, Naba Bikram Kishore Tripura, Secretary to the CHT Affairs Ministry,former Election Commissioner, M Sakhawat Hussain,Goutam Dewan, President of CHT Citizen’s Committee, former foreign Secretary Mohiuddin Ahmed; Prof.Mesbah Kamal, Researcher on indigenous issues spoke in the dialogue.
In addition, in the morning of 4 December 2014, Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum and Kapaeeng Foundation with support of Manusher Jonno Foundation organized a discussion on “Strengthening Special Administrative Institutions in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in line with the CHT Accord” at The Daily Star Bhaban in Dhaka. In the afternoon, Kapaeeng Foundation and Bangladesh Indigenous Cultural Forum organized discussion on “Indigenous Peoples’ cultural rights, preservation and development: present perspective” at Chayanot Bhaban in Dhaka.Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, President of Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum and also President of PCJSS, attended the occasions as the chief guest. Among others, the national level political leaders, intellectuals and indigenous leaders shared their views in the discussion.
Rangamati: On 2 December 2014 at around 10:00 am, PCJSS organized a mass gathering at Gymnasium premises in Rangamati town.President of PCJSS Rangamati district branch Gunendu Bikash Chakma presided over the public gathering, while Pranati Bikash Chakma, General Secretary of PCJSS, was present as the Chief Guest. Besides, Ali Asgar Chowdhury, Assistant Professor of Chittagong University,Mohouddin Mahim, Lecturer of Chittagong University,Prakriti Ranjan Chakma, President of CHT chapter of Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples’ Forum, Mangal Kumar Chakma of PCJSS, Shishir Chakma, Educationist and cultural activist, and leaders of Associate Organizations of PCJSS delivered speech in this public meeting.The mass gathering was followed by a colorful rally. Thousands of indigenous people with colorful banners and festoons attended the rally.The rally paraded the main roads from Gymnasium premises to Banarupa patrol pumpof the town.
Besides, PCJSS also organized public gatherings in Baghaichari, Longadu, Barkal, Bilaichari, Jurachari, Kaptai and Rajasthali upazilas including Farua under Bilaichari upazila. The Army also organized a counter rally at Naniarchar and Bilaichari upazilas.In Rangamati district, UPDF tried to prevent Jumma villagers of Bandukbhanga under Rangamati Sadar upazila and Betbunia under Kaukhali Upazila from attending the public meetings.
Bandarban: On 2 December 2014 morning PCJSS organized rally and public gathering in the premises of Puraton Rajar Math in Bandarban town. Speakers of the public meeting reiterated their demand of early government steps for full implementation of CHT Accord. As the CHT Accord has not yet been executed fully, the fundamental rights of indigenous people including their constitutional rights and their right to lands have not been established. Central PCJSS member KS Mong Marma addressed the gathering as Chief Guest while the gathering was presided over by President of PCJSS district branch, Uchaw Sing Marma.Thousands of indigenous peoples with colorful banners and festoons attended the programme.Later on, a large procession paraded the main roads of the town.
Besides, PCJSS organized rallies and public meetings in Ruma, Lama, Alikadam, Naikhyongchari, Rowanngchari and Thanchiupazilas.
Khagrachari: On 2 December 2014, Khagrachari Hill District Council (KHDC) staged a colorful procession in the morning where a number of people carrying flowers, posters, banners and placards joined the procession. The Lawmaker from Khagrachari constituency KujendraLal Tripura formally inaugurated the procession as the Chief Guest while Khagrachari Army Regional Commander Brig. Gen.KaziShamsul Islam, KHDC Chairman Chai Tow AungMarma, Deputy Commissioner Md. Masud Karim, and KhagrachariMunicipality Mayor Md. RafiqulAlam attended the occasion as the Special Guests.
Chittagong: On 2 December 2014 at 3:00 p.m. the Observation Committee organized public meeting and rally on 17th Anniversary of CHT Accord at Shahid Minar in Chittagong. Tapos Hore presided over the meeting while Prof. Iftekharuddin Chowdhury, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Chittagong University was present as the Chief Guest. Besides, A K M Raisul Haque Bahar, Chittagong Bureau Chief of The Daily Star; Rahaman Nasir Uddin, professor of Chittagong University, Jhulan Dhar, Faruque Hossain, Basu Mitra Chakma, Nitai Prasad Ghosh, Sharat Jyoti Chakma, Jyotisman Chakma, spoke at the meeting, among others.
Other organizations: Parbatya Bangali Chhatra Parishad brought out processions demanding cancellation of the Accord terming it to be a ‘Black Agreement’ in Rangamati.In the name of Parbatya Chattagram Unnayan Kendra (CHT Development Centre), a poster was published in Bandarban district. The poster urged to stop false propaganda regarding implementation of CHT Accord. The poster highlighted the government statement regarding implementation of CHT Accord. A person named Md. Hashem was caught red handed by the local people in Rowangchari upazila while pasting such posters on 2 December 2014 at 8:00 pm. He works as a laborer at army and BGB camps in Rowangchari upazila.