UNDP team passes hectic day in CHT

The delegates came to Khagrachhari in the morning following a three-day visit to Rangamati where they exchanged views with Regional Council Chairman Santu Larma, Zila Parisad Chairman Dr Manik Lal Dewan, Rangamati DC, SP and local NGO leaders.

The team led by Sarah L Timson, a retired UNDP high official, Elsa Stamatopoulou, acting Secretary of Permanent Forum on UN Aborigine Affairs, Victoria Lucia Taull, Chairperson of the UN Voluntary Fund for Aborigine Affairs and local UNDP Coordinator Prasenjit Chakma arrived Dhaka on January 4 on a fact finding tour to Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).

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At Khagrachhari they met Khagrachhari Deputy Commissioner (DC), Mahbubur Rahman, Police Superintentend Motiur Rahman Sheikh, Maung Circle Chief (king) Pauha Pru and people from all strata of life.

Earlier, the delegates reached Khagrachhari via Mahalchhari where they were informed about the overall situation of CHT at Mahalchhari Upazila Nirbahi Officer's office. They also visited Basantapara and Babupara villages, ravaged in an untoward situation among hill people and Bangalees. They talked to the villagers and observed the rehabilitation activities. They also visited a cluster village to have a first hand knowledge about the prevailing atmosphere at Chongrachhori. Then the team went to the CHT Development Board (CHTDB) office where hundreds of Bangalees thronged carrying placards inscribing slogans in English like " We Want to Live in Peace with Equal Rights", "We Want Development", "Santu Larma is a Butcher-Abductor, We Want His Expulsion". The delegates passed a hectic day there meeting CHTDB chairman Wadud Bhuiyan MP, District Council Chairman Nakkhatra Lal Dev Barman and Chairman of the Internal Refugee Rehabilitation Task Force Samiran Dewan.

They discussed the latest situation in CHT, besides inviting their suggestions to restart road construction work including development activities in health and agriculture sectors and pure water supply projects.

The team's visit is an attempt to resolve issues with Regional Council Chairman Santu Larma paving the way to restart stalled UNDP initiated development activities following abduction of three foreign engineers from Guniala in Naniarchar on Rangamati-Khagrachhari road in 2001.