Sujon Roundtable In Khagrachhari
Hold polls to local govt bodies in CHT
Civil society leaders at a roundtable here yesterday demanded holding of election to all local government bodies in three hill districts to ensure transparency in their activities.
All local governments including the CHT Regional Council (RC) and the three hill district councils are being run by government-appointed people for long. This gives scope for corruption on one hand and belies hopes of hill people on the other hand, they said.
Women's participation in local government bodies is negligible in the three hill districts of Khagrachhari, Rangamati and Bandarban, they said.
The roundtable was organised by Khagrachhari district unit of Sushashoner Junny Nagorik (Sujan). It was held at a local community center in the hill town.
Prof Mozzaffar Ahmed, chairman of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) was the chief guest at the roundtable, presided over by Khagrachhari Sujon president Dr. Sudhin Kumar Chakma.
The speakers also suggested activating the Parbattya Zilla Parishad Ain1989 and implementation of the CHT peace accord signed in 1997 and the Hill Tracts Manual 1900 for development of the region and protection of interest of indigenous and Bangla speaking people in the hills.
They also urged the government to ensure participation of all in any election, including ethnic communities.
They put forward a 13-point proposal to the government which include immediate election of all local government bodies, preparation of correct voter lists after resolving the land disputes, strengthen coordination between local governments and government offices, creating income sources for poor people in hills and participation of community leaders in leasing lands and issuing permits.
Mohammad Shaney Alam, Khagrachhari district secretary of Sujon advocate Nasir Uddin Ahmed, Samo Adhiker Andolon leaders Nurunnabi Chowdhury, Rafiqul Islam and Nuruzzaman, Khagrachhari Awami Leauge secretary Zahedul Alam, chief executive of Zabarang Kalayan Samity Mothura Bikash Tripura, former chairman of Khagrachhari Hill District Council (KHDC) Zatindra Lal Tripura and Samiron Dewan spoke at the roundtable.
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