Hill Voice, 20 August 2023, Dhaka: The 8th meeting of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee was held today in Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban in Dhaka.
Abul Hasnat Abdullah MP, the convenor of the committee, presided over the meeting while other two members of the Committee Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, president of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samity (PCJSS) and Kujendra Lal Tripura MP and chairman of the Task Force on Rehabilitation of India-Returnee Tribal Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons were present.
Besides, Basanti Chakma, Member of Parliament from reserved women seats, Goutam Kumar Chakma, Central member of PCJSS and member of CHT Regional Council, secretary of CHT Affairs Ministry Md. Moshiur Rahman, an additional secretary and a joint secretary of the ministry were present in the meeting.
In the meeting, the minutes of the 7th meeting was approved and the progression of the CHT Accord implementation status was discussed.
In an earlier meeting of the CHT Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee, an initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs to deploy APBN in the camps of the withdrawn army camp was suspended. Md. Moshiur Rahman, secretary of the Ministry of CHT Affairs informed that a letter was sent from the CHT Ministry to the Ministry of Home Affairs in this regard but there is no reply from the Ministry of Home Affairs yet.
The Rules of the CHT Land Dispute Settlement Commission have not been finalized yet. The Secretary of the Ministry of Lands said that at present the Minister of Lands is on a tour abroad. The Rules will be finalised after his return to country.
In the previous meeting of the committee, it was decided to form a committee by the Ministry of CHT Affairs to determine what subjects and functions have been transferred to the three Hill District Councils. But the ministry has not yet taken any initiative to form the committee and determine the subjects. Consequently, in the 8th meeting, the Ministry of CHT affairs has been further asked to take effective measures to this regard.
In the previous meeting of the committee, there has been a decision to hold a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary on the implementation of the CHT Accord, on the initiative of the Ministry of CHT affairs, but no measures has been taken by the Ministry. Goutam Kumar Chakma, Member of CHT Regional Council is also expected to attend in the said meeting.
In the previous meeting of the committee, a decision was taken to appoint manpower as per the organogram with 27 posts of CHT Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee. But the Ministry of finance has not given its approval yet.
The meeting also asked the Task Force Chairman Khujendra Lal Tripura to convene Task Force meeting soon and take initiatives to rehabilitate the internally displaced persons.
The Ministry of CHT affairs has not yet taken any effective measure to withdraw lawsuits filed against the members and the supporters of PCJSS. However, the Secretary of CHT Affairs Md. Moshiur Rahman said that the ministry sent a letter to the President of the PCJSS.
At last, there was a discussion on the overall situation of Chittagong Hill Tracts. The Ministry of CHT Affairs has been asked to collect report on KNF from the Deputy Commissioner of Bandarban district.
As per relevant source, the 8th meeting of the CHT Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee has been held in an amiable manner.
