CHT commission says in Rangamati
The Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission (CHTC), now on a five-day visit to the hill districts, held discussions with leaders of indigenous and Bangalee communities in Rangaamti on their problems yesterday and the night before.
The 11-member commission led by its Co-Chairman Lord Eric Avebury arrived Rangamati from Khgrachhari Friday eveninga and soon after started meetings with community leaders. It also held talks with army and civil administration officials.
The team, divided into two groups, met with leaders of indigenous and Bangalee communities separately in Rangamati town Friday evening. Yesterday, Lord Eric Avebury met with Brigade Commander Brigadier General Abu Sohel and Deputy Commissioner Md. Nurul Amin separately.
At the meetings, indigenous leaders alleged that their communities were being subjected to human rights violation and they are still being evicted from their lands in hills to settle Bangla speaking people from plainlands.
The indigenous leaders demanded immediate functioning of the Land Commission (LC) to resolve all land disputes, saying land issue is the main problem in CHT.
Leaders of Somo Odhikar Andolan (SOA), a platform of Bangalee communities, at meetings with the commission, alleged that indigenous communities get better opportunities and facilities in development programmes funded by foreign donors. They demanded equal treatment.
SOA leaders said Bangalee community should be equally represented in the three hill district councils (HDCs) and in CHT Regional Council.
Replying to journalists' questions, Lord Eric Avebury said there should be better relations between indigenous and Bangalee communities and better co-ordination among army, civil administration and all NGOs and UN organisations for greater interests of all living in the hills.
“There are so many problems including the land issue in the region and their solution will take a long time. We are just collecting opinions from all sections of people and we will make recommendations to the government,” Avebury added.
