'Larma destroying CHT peace'

The rally was organised to protest Santu Larma alleged "insolent" remarks about Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Chittagong Development Board the Chairman Wadud Bhuiyan MP last week.

"Chittagong Hill Tracts are not exclusively for a certain community", leaders of the Jote said at the rally. "It's an area of Bangladesh, and Bangladeshis of races and communities have the right to live here".

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The leaders also called upon Bangalee communities living in the hills to "beware of a conspiracy to disrupt peace".

They said army military should remain in the region as long as incidents of extortion, kidnapping and take place.

The leaders also called for cooperation between tribesmen and Bangalees for maintenance of peace.

The Jote announced a ten-point demand at the rally. The demands include removal of Santu Larma from the Regional Council, repeal of the land settlement law and a single voter list for tribesmen. Ramgar Municipal Chairman Belayet Hossein Bhuiyan presided over the rally, addressed by, among others, Khagrachhari district BNP President Nakkhatra Lal Dev Barman, Harun-ur-Rashid, Abu Yusuf Chowdhury and Syed Abdul Momen.