Biplob Rahman
BDNEWS Writer
Dhaka, Aug 8 (BDNEWS) – Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council chairman and Janasanghati Samity president Jyotorindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma demands a fresh voters' list for the hill districts, incorporating only the permanent residents of the three hill districts.
"The voters' list in the Chittagong Hill Tracts should include only the permanent residents of the region. Otherwise, people will not accept any election," he told BDNEWS.
In an interview with the news agency, the former guerrilla leader said all elections -– local and national -- in the hill tracts will have to be conducted by an identical voters' list comprising only the permanent residents.
"The CHT peace treaty and laws categorically said that the voters' list will incorporate only the permanent residents. So, we are not pressing the Election Commission for any illegal or unjustified demand," said the CHT Regional Council chairman.
Besides, he added, the constitution also says that there will be a single voters' list.
The 1997 peace accord and related laws imposed three conditions for one's becoming voter in the region -- permanent residency, ownership of land in the hill tracts and permanent address inside the region.
But the EC says any Bangladeshi citizen can be a voter from any part of the land. So, according to the EC, anyone can be a voter from the region for the national election if s/he is a citizen of Bangladesh, said the EC.
It also said that the regional council and district council elections in the CHT will be held with the voters' list incorporating only the permanent residents of the area.
Santu Larma rejects the EC argument.
"If our demand is not materialised, the permanent residents of the CHT -- hilly people and Bangalees -- will not accept any election," he said adding the EC will have to bear the responsibility for any consequence.
He informed that they will officially place the demand before the EC shortly.
In reply to a question, Larma, also the president of the Adivasi Forum, said: The indigenous people in CHT and other parts of the country will play their due role of active participation in formation of a secular and pro-people government in the next general elections.
"Not only the Janasanghati Samiy and Adivasi Forum, but all other organisations of the indigenous people will play an active role against misrule and terrorism," he said.
"This should be done for protecting the rights of indigenous people on their lands and culture," Santu told BDNEWS.
BDNEWS/1833 hrs
