CHT Peace Accord completes its 23 years today

Today (December 2) is the 23rd anniversary of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord.

The accord was signed on December 2 in 1997 between the government and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS) during the first tenure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with a view to stopping long-standing conflicts in three hill districts.

The then Jatiya Sangsad Chief Whip Abul Hasnat Abdullah signed the agreement on behalf of the government, while Jotirindra Bodhipriyo Larma (Santu Larma) on behalf of PCJSS.

The Khagrachhari Region and the Hill District Council have undertaken day-long programmes to observe the day in compliance with proper health rules.

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages marking the completion of 23 years of the historic agreement.

In his message, President Hamid called upon all irrespective of party affiliations to work together to make use of the potentials of hill districts.

He recalled that the historic CHT Peace Accord was signed between the CHT Affairs National Committee and the PCJSS on December 2, 1997 at the initiative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, ending bloody conflicts.

As a sequel to the implementation of CHT accord, the CHT Affairs Ministry and CHT Regional Council were formed, the head of the state said.

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted the countrymen, specially the people of the three hill districts, on the occasion of the completion of 23 years of the historic agreement.

The Prime Minister sought cooperation from all for full implementation of the CHT peace accord.

On December 2 in 1997, the historic CHT Peace Accord was signed without the mediation of any third party, with a view to stopping bloody conflicts in the CHT, the premier said.

This peace accord brought an end to the long-term bloody racial skirmishes in the CHT region and established the trend of peace and development there, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said achieving the UNESCO Peace Prize is a global recognition to this accord.

The Prime Minister said the post 1975 undemocratic governments (after the assassination of Bangabandhu) had created divisions between the Bangalee and the hill people for their self-interest instead of maintaining social stability there.

Killings, tortures and injustice, grabbing of lands and wealth and misuse of the state resources had made the region more unstable, she added.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has been implementing massive development programmes in all sectors, including education, health, electricity, communications, infrastructure and mobile networks in the region.