CHT Peace Accord

IT is odious that we would have to write about the implementation of an accord 17 years after it was penned. It was a bold step that the then AL government and Sheikh Hasina as the Prime Minister took on 2 December 1997 to address the grievances of the tribal people of the CHT that suffered due to insurgency for nearly a decade and a half, resulting in deaths and destruction of properties.

We would like to remind the government that the state of limbo that the Accord is in at the moment gives the impression, certainly to the main stake holders – the tribal people of the CHT – that the government is soft-pedaling on the issue, and that it is either unwilling or unable to devise ways to overcome the impediments in the way of the complete implementation of the Accord.

Admittedly, many important aspects of the agreement have been put in place, but the core issue, that of land rights of the tribal population, has not been settled yet. We cannot quite comprehend why the CHT Land Dispute Commission has not yet been given the power through necessary legislation, to ensure the rights of the tribals. It is quite unacceptable that not only the internally displaced person of the CHT but also the nearly 10,000 repatriated families, that had sought refuge in India during the insurgency, should have to wait so long to get back their lands.

The government of Bangladesh had made a commitment to a section of the people of this country which it must keep. If there are genuine reasons, constitutional or otherwise, which are impeding implementation of the Accord, those must be addressed in earnest and soon.