Encourage hill people to mainstream politics, JS body urges ministry
A parliamentary standing committee yesterday asked the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Ministry to take measures so that hill people get interest to engage in the country's mainstream politics instead of local and regional politics.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on CHT Affairs Ministry, at a meeting, also asked the law enforcement agencies to keep vigil if any militant outfit operates 'hidden activities' in the hill areas.
“Generally, hill people are not interested in the nation's mainstream politics, rather they get involved in their local and regional politics, which often causes scores of killings and injuries,” Md Abu Zahir, a member of the committee, said after the meeting at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in the capital.
Abu Zahir, also a ruling Awami League lawmaker, said the committee members discussed about the internal politics of the hill districts of Bandarbans, Khagrachari and Rangamati.
The members also opined that most of the killings and fierce gun fights in the three hill districts is the result of internal or regional politics, he said.
“The committee therefore asked the authorities concerned to encourage hill people to get involved in the national politics instead of their local political groups,” he added.
It also suggested expanding schooling programmes to give education to the children in these areas.
On the issue of indiscriminate chopping of trees and land grabbing in the hills, the committee asked the law enforcement agencies to take immediate steps against persons involved in such activities.
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