What did you do? Larma asks Hasina about CHT Peace Accord

The Awami League hardly took any step to implement the conditions set in the CTH Peace Accord in the last eight years, Santu Larma, president of the Parbatya Chattagram Janasanghati Samiti or PCJSS, has said.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 4 Dec 2017, 06:18 PM
Updated : 5 Dec 2017, 07:12 AM

At a video conference from the Ganabhaban on Friday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said 48 of 72 conditions set in the accord have been ‘fully implemented’ while 15 others ‘partially fulfilled.

She was addressing representatives of the three hill districts to mark 20th anniversary of the deal.

Jyotirindro Bodhiprya Larma aka Santu Larma dismissed Hasina’s claim at a discussion held on the deal on Monday.

“Hasina’s government did nothing in the last eight years except for changing a few controversial sections of the land commission,” he said at the discussion titled, “Youth’s take on 20 years of CHT Peace Accord,” arranged by the Kapeng Foundation.

“People in the hills are still living in abyss, surrounded by the army. Hasina’s government has done all it can to kill the accord,” Larma said claiming that he hardly had any power despite being the chairman of the CHT Regional Council.

“Those who haven’t read the accord may get misguided by the prime minister’s statement,” said Suman Marma, general secretary of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Students Council.

During Friday’s video conference, Hasina had also blamed the coalition of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, which came to power in 2001, for delaying the implementation process.

“They cite the subsequent tenures of the BNP, who opposed the deal, and the caretaker government as the reason behind the failure to implement the deal. They’ve failed to make up the gap,” Larma said referring to the ruling Awami League which has been in power for the past eight years.

“With due respect, I would like to ask what measures have you taken between 2009 and 2017?”

CPB leader Abdullah Al Kafi Ratan said: “The hill areas are under colonial rule. Some 400 army camps are set up there. Why do you set up army camps there if you are up for establishing peace?

“The situation in the CHT is turning worse due to the initiatives of the government and policy makers. We cannot step back now. We have to march forward,” said the presidium member of the Communist Party of Bangladesh or CPB.

The Awami League signed the accord with the PCJSS on Dec 2, 1997 to put an end to a bloody conflict of around two decades in the area.

The members of the group surrendered arms to Hasina three months into signing the deal.