Land Commission to work for all

Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Land Commission held its meeting at Rangamati Circuit House in the district town yesterday, amid hartal called by Bangalee settlers in three hill districts.

The meeting was the first one after the government's approval of Chittagong Hill Tracts Land Dispute Resolution Commission (Amendment) Act-2016.

"The Commission has discussed ways to move forward with its work. The Commission will work for everyone in the Chittagong Hill Tracts," Jyotirindro Bodhipriyo Larma (Santu Larma), chairman of CHT Regional Council, said after the meeting that continued from 10:30am to 2:30pm.

"The Land commission will work for all people of Chittagong Hill Tracts. No residents, whether locals or settlers, will lose their land following activation of the government's land commission," said Anwar-ul Haque, chairman of CHT Land Commission.

Raja Debashish Roy, Chakma Circle chief, said, "The Commission will work according to the 2001 act. There was some inconsistency in the law and now it has been removed. Now the commission needs manpower and office to work. This issued has been discussed in today's meeting."

Shacing Prue, Mong Circle chief, Chocing Prue, Bomang Circle delegate, Brisho Ketu Chakma, chairman of Rangamati Hill District Council, Kongjori Chowdhury, chairman of Khagrachhari Hill District Council, Momenur Rashid Amin, Chittagong divisional commissioner, and Bandarban Hill District Council delegates were present at the meeting.

Earlier the Commission members met with local representatives of the district.

Gowher Rijvi, international affairs advisor to the prime minister, Naba Bikram Kishore Tripura, secretary of CHT affairs ministry, Jotindra Lal Tripura, chairman of Task Force on CHT, and Dipankar Talukdar, former state minister for CHT affairs,  were present.

Meanwhile, a dawn to dusk hartal called by five organisations of Bangali settlers in the three hill district was observed peacefully yesterday.

They called hartal demanding cancellation of Chittagong Hill Tracts Land Dispute Commission (amendment) act-2016 and protesting CHT commission first meeting.

During the hartal, most shopkeepers kept their shutters closed while road and waterway communication between 10 upazilas of Rangamati and Chittagong remained suspended.