Hill Voice, 23 November 2024, Special Correspondent:

CHT Accord Implementation Committee

The historic CHT Accord was signed on 2 December 1997 between the Government of Bangladesh and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) with a view to resolving the CHT problem in political and peaceful means.

According to the provision of Section 3 under Part ‘A’ of the CHT Accord, the CHT Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee, making a representative nominated by the Prime Minister the convener and the chairman of the task force formed under this accord and the president of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Smhati Samiti members, has been being formed so far, as far the provision of forming an Accord Implementation Committee with a view to monitoring the implementation process of the accord.

But the Accord Implementation Committee has no independent office, no official has been appointed to perform the committee’s secretarial duties, and no funds have been provided for the operation of the committee’s related activities. As a result, there is no opportunity to monitor the implementation of decisions taken by the Accord Implementation Committee.

During the period of Awami League government, various committees including CHT Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee have been reconstituted according to the CHT Accord, but no effective initiative has been taken to implement the decisions of these committees. In particular, the government has not taken any steps to implement most of the decisions of the CHT Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee. On the other hand, the government is taking anti-Accord and anti-Jumma interest steps against the decision of the committee.

After the formation of the interim government under the leadership of Dr. Yunus, the CHT Accord Implementation Committee has not been reconstituted till date. As a result, the activities of this committee can be considered to be completely closed.

In this context, for the sake of the implementation of the CHT Accord, it is considered necessary for the Interim Government to appoint a competent person for the post of convener of the CHT Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee after discussing with the PCJSS. After appointing the post of convenor, the Accord implementation and monitoring committee meeting can determine the un-implemented issues of the Accord. It is very important to adopt a time-bound action plan (roadmap) in the Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee for implementation of unrealized issues. According to that roadmap, the interim government can take the initiative to implement the Accord.

In addition, in order to maintain the continuity of the Accord implementation process and to make the Accord implementation process fast and proper, it is necessary to arrange its own office, manpower and funds for the committee and it is recommended to appoint a competent person as the convener of the Accord Implementation Committee.

In fact, after the signing of the CHT Accord, two-thirds of the clauses including the core issues of the Accord have not been implemented even in the past 27 years.