The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Rangamati

Discussants at BBC Bangladesh Sanglap demanded full implementation of the CHT peace accord, introduction of cellular phone network, balanced development for all including ethnic and Bangali communities and development in the tourism sector here in the hill district.

"As the treaty has been misinterpreted for years, it has not been implemented due to lack of good political wills," said the Chakma Circle Chief (Chakma king) Raja Devasish Roy.

President of Rangamati district Awami League Dipankar Talukder, Rangamati Municipality Chairman Habibur Rahman and chairperson of Green Hill, a NGO Tuku Talukder joined the discussion.

BBC Bangla Service in conjunction with the BBC World Service Trust organised the event that held at the compound of Parjotan Holiday Complex. Shakeel Anwar of BBC Bangla Service moderated the programme.

The Chakma Raja said although several provisions of the peace treaty have been implemented, there are some important clauses including land dispute and withdrawals of security camps were not implemented.

Dipankar, a former AL lawmaker said the treaty would be implemented if a pro-treaty government assumes power through next election, otherwise, full implementation of the treaty would be delayed.

Habibur Rahman said as there are some highly controversial clauses in the accord, its full implementation would take time. While Tuku observed that if the accord is implemented fully, both the Bangali and the indigenous community would be benefited.

Referring to Law Adviser Mainul Hosein's comment to review the treaty, Chakma Raja said as the treaty has been signed between the two sides-the government and the Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS), reviewing of the accord is not possible without the nod of the two sides.

Replying to a query, the panelists said that people of three hill districts are not getting the facilities of mobile phone network. Demanding the government to initiate small range mobile network in the towns to include the hill people in the development process. They observed it is not logical that the government is not providing mobile phone network facility on security ground.

The panelists observed that the government should turn Rangamati into an international standard tourism spot.