Resolve CHT issues thru' political means

Source-http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=45518

The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) issues should be resolved through political means, speakers at a discussion said yesterday.

The Bangalees and hill people should put in joint efforts to solve the problems, they said.

Some indigenous people at the meeting alleged that hundreds of acres of their lands are being acquired in the name of development activities.

The discussion titled 'Present situation of CHT and the responsibility of citizens' was held under the banner of 'Worried Citizens' at Mukti Bhaban auditorium in the city, with Prof Akmol Hossain in the chair.

Rashed Khan Menon, president of Workers Party of Bangladesh, said the problems in Chittagong Hill Tracts are absolutely political problems. Therefore, the issues should be resolved through political means, he added.

He also said the CHT regional council is not functioning properly.

Prof Anu Muhammad of Jahangirnagar University called for giving constitutional recognition to the indigenous people.

Comrade Khalequzzaman of Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal said the local administration is acquiring hundreds of acres of land in CHT in the name of development.

Advocate Gyan Jyoti Chakma said the situation in CHT has worsened after the caretaker government took over.

He also accused the local administration of remaining indifferent to the suffering of indigenous people.

Ruhin Hossain Prince of Communist Party of Bangladesh and Samir Kanti Dewan, a resident of CHT, also spoke.