BANGLADESH NEWS
Indigenous community leader Santu Larma on Wednesday warned the Chittagong Hill Tracts may plunge into violence and bloodshed any moment over problems plaguing the region.
"Man's lifestyle changes. Confrontation and controversies in hills were once set to rest. It may start all over again," said the former guerrilla leader.
He was speaking at a discussion organised by Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council and NGO Nijera Kori at CIRDAP auditorium, where discussants shared their ideas about settling land disputes in the hilly region.
His statement shed light on the brewing discontent among the tribal people as the government continues to deny existence of indigenous communities in Bangladesh.
Late last year, a frustrated Larma threatened to start an agitation to make operational the Chittagong Hill Tracts accord that ended decades of bloody bush war.
The Chittagong Hill Tracts used to be a tinderbox even two decades ago when indigenous people gathered under the banner of Shanti Bahini, an armed force, demanding autonomy.
The Bahini was dissolved following signing of Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord in 1998. Santu Larma, whose real name is Jyotirindra Bodhipriyo Larma, became Chairman of CHT Regional Council, a body formed in line with the accord.
The accord, one of the major points of which is the immediate settlement of land ownership, remains mostly unimplemented.
"Thousands of disputes over land ownership in the hills were created by the government," alleged Larma as he demanded that the CHT Land Commission be strengthened.
Indigenous leaders want changes to some provisions of Land Commission law but Bengali settlers living in the hills are opposed to this.
National Human Rights Commission Chairman Mizanur Rahman doubts implementation of the peace accord at all if it does not happen in the current term of the Awami League-led government.
He announced his commission would carry out a census on indigenous people
"Man's lifestyle changes. Confrontation and controversies in hills were once set to rest. It may start all over again," said the former guerrilla leader.
He was speaking at a discussion organised by Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council and NGO Nijera Kori at CIRDAP auditorium, where discussants shared their ideas about settling land disputes in the hilly region.
His statement shed light on the brewing discontent among the tribal people as the government continues to deny existence of indigenous communities in Bangladesh.
Late last year, a frustrated Larma threatened to start an agitation to make operational the Chittagong Hill Tracts accord that ended decades of bloody bush war.
The Chittagong Hill Tracts used to be a tinderbox even two decades ago when indigenous people gathered under the banner of Shanti Bahini, an armed force, demanding autonomy.
The Bahini was dissolved following signing of Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord in 1998. Santu Larma, whose real name is Jyotirindra Bodhipriyo Larma, became Chairman of CHT Regional Council, a body formed in line with the accord.
The accord, one of the major points of which is the immediate settlement of land ownership, remains mostly unimplemented.
"Thousands of disputes over land ownership in the hills were created by the government," alleged Larma as he demanded that the CHT Land Commission be strengthened.
Indigenous leaders want changes to some provisions of Land Commission law but Bengali settlers living in the hills are opposed to this.
National Human Rights Commission Chairman Mizanur Rahman doubts implementation of the peace accord at all if it does not happen in the current term of the Awami League-led government.
He announced his commission would carry out a census on indigenous people
No comments:
Post a Comment