CHT local bodies losing people's confidence

The purpose for which those were created is also not being served, according to some former leaders of the local bodies.

This is also affecting administrations in Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban, which are being run virtually on ad-hoc basis, they observed.

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Talking to this correspondent, Mong Kew Ching, former chairman of Bandarban Hill District Council, said, "Members of the local government bodies can not take any decision independently as they are not elected. On the other hand they have no commitment to people as they are selected by the government."

Another former chairman of Bandarban Hill District Council, Kew Shew Hla Marma, said, "As per the Constitution, all members of local governments have to be elected representatives of people. But the government is not holding elections. Instead, the party in power selects its men to serve its purpose, not of people."

The organisations are virtually inactive as they are run as per interim arrangements, he said.

"They (the organisations) are losing their importance also to the government", Kew Shew Hla Marma said.

Those who occupy the positions by virtue of their parties in power should also realise this. Previously, the Chairmen of a Hill District Council enjoyed the status of a Deputy Minister. The government withdrew the facility in July this year, he noted.

This correspondent also talked to Ching Keu Roaza, former chairman of Rangamati Hill District Council and Jotindra Lal Tripura of Khagrachari Hill District Council. They also demanded immediate election to the district councils so that they can regain their position and pride.

Stripping of the status of a deputy minister has annoyed the incumbent chairmen of the hill district councils.

Ma Mya Ching, Chairman of Bandarban Hill District Council, said this has further degraded the status of the council. She said she along with the chairmen of two other district councils held a meeting with the prime Minister and urged her to strengthen the councils by giving them more power. But she declined to make any comment when asked whether she demands election to the bodies.

The election is not held due to controversy over voter list. The law Ministry says that as per provisions of the District Council Act, election should be held on the basis of a "separate voter list" based on local communities. The ministry also sent letters to the Election Commission (EC) to this effect in August this year.

But the EC says that election rules, formulated in line with the Constitution, does not permit preparation of "separate voter lists" for any particular geographical area or people.

The EC found the Law Ministry's suggestion "inconsistent" with constitutional provisions which provide for "a single voter list for any region irrespective of religion, race, caste of its citizens", the sources said.

Moreover, the local Bangalee communities oppose a separate voter list, sources said.

The councils were first introduced for a three-year term through a direct election, held on June 25, 1989. Since expiry of their tenure in 1992, the councils are run by government selected bodies. The tenure of 1989 councils was extended thrice and they continued for nine years.

Subsequently, the councils were formed with people selected by the parties in power, which gave more importance to politics than development of their areas.

Now, the bodies are also losing accountability as their chairmen can change their members, often done through lobbying with high-ups in the government.

Talking to this correspondent, a good number of local elite in the three hill towns also said these "arbitrary things" must stop for improvement of government's relations with people of the three hill districts.

They said running of the councils with selected bodies also violates provisions of the landmark CHT Peace Agreement signed in 1997 during Awami League rule.

Terming the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council as a great achievement towards establishing sustainable peace and development in the hills, they said even the Awami League government violated the provisions by not holding election.

As per the peace agreement, the Chairmen and members of CHT Regional Council will be elected by the chairman and members of the three hill district councils. The Regional Council comprises a chairman and 21 members.

If the present situation is not changed and co-ordination geared up, peace in the area will be disturbed and people will be deprived more, they said.

Talking to this correspondent some local lawyers said continuation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regulation 1900 promulgated during the British rule alongside the Chittagong Hill Tracts Local Government Council Act of 1989 also creates problems in administration in the hill districts. The CHT Regulation 1900 does not provide for any elected local government.

Besides, the Municipality Ordinance 1977, Upazila Parishad Rule 1998 and Local Government (Union Parishad) Ordinance 1983 are also in force, which only complicates things, they said.

Such divergent provisions only create misunderstanding between the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Ministry and other ministries and among the local bodies, which hamper implementation of government steps in political, social and administrative fields in the area, they said.