Parbatya Chattagram Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP)
Parbatya Chattagram Pahari Chhatra Parishad (Chittagong Hill Tracts Hill Students Council), in short better known as PCP, has a long historical vista dating back to 1960’s. If the students of East Bengal are held to be the frontline soldiers of liberation war of 1971, it can safely be concluded that the hill students of the time, have been instrumental for the political renaissance of CHT during the post-independent era. It was the time of ‘Basic Democracy’ introduced by Pakistan military regime during which the basic human rights including right to speech were ceased to exist. The whole East Pakistan was under the grip of panic. The hill students studying in different cities, especially in Dhaka University got themselves organized under the banner of ‘Hill Students’ Association’ ? a forum of hill students having no patronization of any political party, be it at regional or at national level.
Later on, during post-independent period, it came to be known as Pahari Chhatra Samiti (Hill Students’ Association) ? a student wing organization of PCJSS. The organization has been the frontline functional organ of PCJSS, the only political organization of the CHT indigenous peoples.
Now, Parbatya Chattagram Pahari Chhatra Parishad (Hill Students’ Council) may be viewed as the renewal form of the earlier organization of the indigenous students. PCP is a student wing organization of the Parbatya Chattgram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) involved in struggling for rights to self-determination of the Jumma indigenous peoples in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh. The PCP was founded on 20 May 1989, besides its own, having common political aim and objectives with PCJSS.
PCP inherits the core ideal of humanity and humanitarian values based on principles of Unity, Equality, Education and Progressiveness.
The Central Council of the PCP, which is convened every year, is the supreme body of the organization, which elects a Central Committee accountable to it. The Central Committee is the highest organ of the PCP during the interval in between two Central Councils.
The PCP has branches in the educational institutions at university, college and school levels. The PCP has also branches in all the three hill districts and upazilas (sub-districts) in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). Besides, there are also metropolitan committees in all over the country.
At present, Mr. Nipon Tripura is president of the organization while Mr.Thawikoyjai Chak and Mr. Suprio Chakma are assigned with responsibilities as General Secretary and Organizing Secretary respectively.
The contact address of the PCP is as follows:
Hill Students’ Council
CFB Building, North Kalindipur, Rangamati, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh
E-mail: chtpcp1989@gmail.com, chtpcp@hotmail.com