Statement by the PCJSS regarding the three high-level committees formed by the government on the CHT
Dear Hill Residents,
The Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) extends its revolutionary greetings and congratulations to all of you.
You are already aware that Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh has constituted three committees related to Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) such as “National Committee on CHT Affairs”, “Executive Committee on CHT Affairs” and “Consultative Committee on CHT Affairs”. The PCJSS has expressed deep concern over the unilateral formation of such committees by the government, bypassing the CHT Accord of 1997.
On September 10, 2026, the constitution of these three committees was published in the Bangladesh Gazette signed by Md. Humayun Kabir, Additional Secretary (Committee and Economic) of the Cabinet Division.
Among the three committees, a 19-member National Committee on CHT Affairs was formed with the Prime Minister as its Chairperson. This committee includes the ministers of Finance and Planning, Home Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Land, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, and CHT Affairs. Also included are the State Ministers for Foreign Affairs and CHT Affairs, and the Adviser to the Ministry of Finance and Planning. Other members comprise the Cabinet Secretary, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Members of Parliament from the three hill districts, the Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, and the Director Generals of the NSI and DGFI. Within the National Committee, the Adviser to the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces Division has been appointed as the Chief Coordinator, while the Director General of the DGFI as the Member-Secretary.
The scope of work of the National Committee covers the areas of priority determination of various significant aspects relating to CHT and supervision of inter-agencies implementation; determination of scope of work and areas of various security forces and law & order forces; and finalization of national strategy and undertaking measures for its implementation.
On the other hand, the Executive Committee on CHT Affairs has been formed with 15 members under Chairmanship of the Secretary of Home Affairs. The Secretaries of Ministry of Land, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliament and Ministry of CHT Affairs are in the Committee. Besides, the committee also accommodates the Inspector General (IG) of Police, the Director Generals of National Security Intelligence (NSI), Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Ansar & Village Defense Party (VDP). The Committee also includes the GOC of 24th Infantry Division, Chittagong Divisional Commissioner, the Director Generals and Directors of Armed Forces Division, Special Branch of Police (SB), NSI and Social Stability Intelligence Bureau (SSIB). The Director General of DGFI has been appointed as the Chief Coordinator and the Director of SSIB as the Member-Secretary of the Executive Committee.
Formulation of a National Strategy regarding the CHT is one of the functions of the National Executive Committee. The functions of the Committee also include: suppression of terrorism and separatism, ensuring border security, maintenance of communal harmony, formulation of national strategy for development of livelihood for all communities living in CHT; and having review of the existing laws & regulations and the terms of the Accord, to submit recommendations for bringing necessary reform and amendment and in formulation of new laws and regulations. According to the directives, the Executive Committee will have to formulate the National Strategy and submit to the National Committee within a span of three months.
The Consultative Committee on CHT Affairs has been organized with 9 members having the Chairman of the CHT Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee as the Chairman. The members of the Committee are – Chairman of the Task Force on Rehabilitation of Tribal refugee and Internally Displaced Persons, Secretary of Ministry of CHT Affairs, Representatives of the Chairman of Regional Council and the Chairmen of the three Hill District Councils.
The scope of works of the Consultative Committee include: submission of recommendations to the Executive Committee on CHT Affairs on development of CHT, security measures, suppression of terrorism and upkeeping of communal harmony within the span of two months.
Dear Revolutionary People,
Instead of taking steps to formulate an action plan for implementing the CHT Accord, the Executive Committee’s terms of reference have incorporated the task of “formulating a national strategy to curb terrorism and separatism and ensure border security” in the region, which the PCJSS considers to be a matter of grave concern and motivated move. It is through this, it appears that the government views the CHT issue through the lens of so-called security, terrorism, and separatism, rather than recognizing it as a political issue. Consequently, this approach will yield in further complicate the situation instead of resolving the CHT problem.
Moreover, the Executive Committee’s terms of reference mention “after review of the existing laws, terms of the Accord and rules and regulations thereof, to bring necessary amendment and reform and formulation of new laws, rules and regulations for ensuring resilient security in CHT.” Hence, it can safely be said that such inclusion in the scope of work have been made with a mean and ill view to bringing amendment to the CHT Accord and the laws formulated in accordance with the Accord. At this, it can safely be concluded that the CHT situation will be destined to embrace further complexity and instability.
A careful examination of the composition, hierarchy and terms of reference of these committees reveals a framework dominated by the military, intelligence agencies and other national security institutions. Military and intelligence officials have been given central roles in formulating, coordinating and implementing national policy on the CHT. This arrangement risks reversing the fundamental provisions of the CHT Accord.
The PCJSS counts it to be of highly alarming in estimating the government’s move for resolving the age-old problem like CHT’s by forming up National committee and Executive Committee incorporating the representatives from the armed forces and intelligence agencies such as the GOC of 24th Infantry Division, Armed Forces Division, DGFI, SB, NSI, SSIB, etc.; providing provisions for necessary human resources and structures by the DGFI; and in necessary, entrusting the secretariat to the Intelligence agencies/security forces.
Moreover, the Advisor to the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces Division has been appointed as the Chief Coordinator, and the Director General of DGFI as the Member-Secretary of the national committee; similarly, the Director General of DGFI has been named Chief Coordinator, and the Director of SSIB the Member-Secretary, of the executive committee. PCJSS is in view that such involvement of high-ranking military and intelligence officials in those Committees meant for democratic means for resolving the political problem is unprecedented and contravening to the democratic norms. There is no doubt that this will not only block the path to resolving the issue through the political and peaceful means ascertained by the CHT Accord but also intensify the militarization and military rule in the CHT. Through this, the path of repression against the Jumma people of the CHT will be further widened by keeping their long-standing problems unresolved and intensifying militarization.
From among the three Committees, the responsibility of National Committee is to act upon the role of policy determination on CHT affairs while the Executive Committee is to formulate the national strategy and the Consultative Committee is to submit recommendations. It is notable that the CHT Regional Council and the three Hill District Councils, the institutions formed under special administrative system of CHT have not been included in the decision-making process with an ulterior motive. These councils have been placed to play a secondary role mere producing consultancy and recommendations. At this, the role of Jumma people and PCJSS, which is signatory of the Accord on behalf of the Jumma people and other permanent residents of the region, has been completely disregarded and ignored, and condemned the act of which cannot be considered to be politically inclusive.
Furthermore, as though the Chairmen of the three Hill District Councils have been incorporated in the Consultative Committee, the Chairman of the Regional Council has been side-lined consciously in a process by accommodating representative, instead of the Chairman of CHT Regional Council. The three Circle Chiefs have also been left excluded from the committee. Besides, after BNP government’s assumption to power, the CHT Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee, Task Force and the Land Commission have not yet been re-organized but the Chairmen of those committees have been placed as the members.
On the other end, the National Committee and Executive Committee have been entrusted with the role of formulation of national strategy and making decision. In the matter of determining national strategy and making decisions over three Hill Districts from among the 64 districts of the country, there are the members from almost all the significant capacities sitting in the Cabinet and the top-ranking officials of the administrative organs and intelligence agencies, in the committee.
Indeed, the initiative undertaken by the BNP government proves that likewise the preceding governments, the present BNP government is all set to execute CHT-problem-resolving policy in a fascist manner through escalation of militarization, in place of peaceful and political means through implementation of the CHT Accord. Whereas, it is an established fact that the CHT problem is a national and political problem, which inevitably necessitates to be resolved by peaceful and political means.
Dear Right-loving Jumma People,
After winning the election held on 12 February 2026 by two-third majority, the BNP led by Tarique Rahman formed the government. Dipen Dewan who was elected from 299 Rangamati constituency, took oath of office as the Minister for Ministry of CHT Affairs on 17 February 2026 the whole process of which has been in consonance with the Accord and desirable. But at the same time, Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, an MP (Chittagong-5) outside CHT was also appointed as the State Minister of the Ministry of CHT Affairs – the move of which has not been in line with the terms of the Accord rather contravening to the Accord. It is worthy to be mentioned that despite strong demand of the civil society from CHT and the country as well, no measure was undertaken on government side to remove Helal Uddin MP from the Ministry of CHT Affairs. What caused to arise serious concern was that Dipen Dewan MP was made step down on 1 June 2026 under tremendous pressure – just after 102 days of assumption to office as the Minister.
Three months later following removal of Dipen Dewan, Saching Prue Jerry MP of Bandarban constituency was appointed as the Minister of Ministry of CHT Affairs on 21 August 2026. As though Saching Prue Jerry was meant for the Ministry of CHT Affairs but on 27 August 2026, he was entrusted with the responsibilities of looking after the law & order, corruption and development affairs including overall supervision and coordination of government functions of Cox’s Bazar district while the State Minister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin was awarded with all the three Hill Districts of CHT. It means that though Saching Prue Jerry was appointed as the Minister of Ministry of CHT Affairs, his appointment is for name sake, since, Helal Uddin MP was entrusted with the sole responsibility of dealing with the administration, law & order and development including supervision and coordination of all the government functions in CHT.
It is to be noted that there is a provision in the Accord by merit of which the CHT Regional Council shall be the highest administrative body. The present government has not yet pace forward to put the CHT Regional Council in place with effect. Rather, the government is being noticed aptly to by-pass the CHT Regional Council in various aspects. For instance, as the flood situation worsened all the three hill districts, Anindya Islam Amit MP (Jessore-3), State Minister, Ministry of Power and Energy, was assigned to supervise the relief operation in the flood-affected areas of CHT. Whereas, CHT Regional Council, the highest administrative organ, was not included in the operation.
Needless to say, the contribution exerted by the then Khaleda Zia-led government (1991-1995) towards reaching at CHT Accord is undeniable. With an aim at resolving the CHT problem through peaceful and political means, in continuation of PCJSS dialogue with General Ershad government, dialogue with the BNP government (1991-1995) was held for 13 times. In continuation of the same, the CHT Accord with the Awami League government came to reality in 1997. Even more, it may be recalled that after winning back to power in 2001, the BNP government had an initiative to implement some aspects of the Accord. By then, the BNP government formed a ‘Cabinet Committee on implementation of the CHT Accord’ and maintained the continuation of the Accord implementation process by devolving two subjects/functions, namely, ‘District and Upazilla Youth Development Office’ and ‘Rangamati Textile Vocational Institute’ to the Hill District Councils.
Therefore, for the national interest sake, PCJSS calls upon the present government to respond to the followings–
1. To abolish the National Committee, Executive Committee and the Consultative Committee with immediate effect.
2. To take initiatives to resolve the political issues of the CHT through political and democratic means by implementing the CHT Accord, having the reconstitution of the Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee, the Task Force on the Rehabilitation of Returnee Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, the CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission, and the Advisory Committee of the Ministry of CHT Affairs, in accordance with the Accord.
3. To formulate a time-bound action plan (roadmap) for proper implementation of the CHT Accord.
4. To remove State Minister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin MP from the Ministry of CHT Affairs and not to preserve the portfolios of State Minister and Deputy Minister in the Ministry of CHT Affairs.
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Published and circulated by the Information and Publicity Department of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) from Kalyanpur, Rangamati Hill District, in September 2026.