Indigenous culture bill tabled

Parliament saw a bill tabled Monday for recognition, protection and preservation by the state of the cultural heritages of at least 25 ethnic minority and indigenous groups living in Bangladesh.

Culture minister Abul Kalam Azad placed the Ethnic Minorities Cultural Centres Bill 2009' in parliament and it was sent to the parliamentary standing committee on cultural affairs for further examination for three weeks. >more> http://bdnews24.com/details.php?id=146110&cid=2

Bangladesh prime minister issues directives to develop tourism

Underling the importance of Chittagong Hill Tracts as a tourist attraction,

the prime minister said peace was restored in the Chittagong Hill Tracts

(CHT) ...>more> http://www.eturbonews.com/12536/bangladesh-prime-minister-issues-directives-develop-tourism

Meeting of the CHT Accord Implementation Monitoring

DC of Bandarban reported that in the recent months 19 persons of

Neighbouring Myanmar were killed and 11 arms were captured including three

persons of so-called CHTNF (Chittagong Hill Tracts National Liberation>more> http://www.indigenousportal.com/Politics/Bangladesh-Meeting-of-the-CHT-Accord-Implementation-Monitoring-Committee-held.html

Indian Intelligence Involvement In Chittagong

The Indian intelligence had collaborated the armed rebels of Chittagong

Hill Tracts to destabilise the region ( Indo-Bangladesh Relation, Motiur

Rahman, daily Prothom Alo, Dhaka,10 December 2002). Posted by azimul haque

khan at 12:33 >more> http://azimthoughts.blogspot.com/2009/10/indian-intelligence-involvement-in.html

Report on Recent Government Meetings

On 26 October 2009 meeting of the CHT Accord Implementation Monitoring Committee was held at the office of Deputy Leader of the Parliament in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in Dhaka. Presided over by Ms. Sayeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Convenor of the CHT Accord Implementation Committee and Deputy Leader of the Parliament, the meeting was attended by other two members of the Committee, namely, Mr. Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, President of PCJSS and Mr. Jatindra Lal Tripura, Chairman, Task Force on Rehabilitation of the Returnee Refugees and IDPs. >more> http://www.unpo.org/content/view/10272/102/

Interview with Brigadier retired General Hannan Shah

The military is being withdrawn from the Chittagong Hill Tracts ostensibly as part of implementing the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) peace accord of 1997. Many see this as a security threat to the region. As a former military officer, how do you view this?
The manner in which the military and other security forces are being removed from the Chittagong Hill Tracts in the name of the peace accord can only be suicidal for Bangladesh in the near future. The situation which should have emerged as a result of the CHT peace accord, namely security for the inhabitants of the area, has not materialised till date. >more> http://www.himalmag.com/Interview-with-Brigadier-retired-General-Hannan-Shah_dnw216.html

Chittagong Hills Tract: CHT Accord May Be Reviewed, if Needed: Sajeda

Deputy Leader of the House Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury has said the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord regarding the rehabilitation of displaced people may be reviewed, if necessary >more> http://www.unpo.org/content/view/10259/102/

Review of CHT accord, if necessary

Deputy Leader of the House and Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord Implementation Committee Convener Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury yesterday said the government would review the CHT peace agreement if it is necessary.

“The present government will do everything to implement the CHT treaty signed on December 2, 1997,” she told a press briefing at the Jatiya Sangsad Media Centre after the second meeting of the committee at her office in Parliament>more> http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=111499

Scrap decision to conduct CHT land survey

Speakers at a dialogue yesterday urged the CHT Land Commission to scrap its

decision to conduct a land survey in Chittagong Hill Tracts without

resolving> more> http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=111227

The peace messenger

1998 for her contribution to bringing peace through ending the 25 years of conflict in Chittagong Hill Tracts with political courage and statesmanship.>more> http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,109718.html

Indian Pursuing Terror for Hegemonic Ambition - Pakistan Defence Forum

In Bangladesh india trained, funded and sheltered “Santi bahini”

terrorist group in Chittagong hill tracts region for decades. As a result

thousands of Bangladeshis and army personal lost life and development of

that region has been ...>more> http://www.defence.pk/forums/world-affairs/37112-indian-pursuing-terror-hegemonic-ambition.html

Hasina seeks int'l help in climate change battle

Listing different pro-people programmes undertaken by her government, she
said apart from this the present government has taken various measurers for
development of Chittagong Hill Tracts. During the meeting, the SIDA
director general >more> http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=110809

CHT deal to be 'fully executed by this govt'

The 1997 peace agreement in the Chittagong Hill Tracts will be fully implemented before the government runs its term in line with the campaign pledge, the state minister for CHT affairs said Tuesday.

"We have already reconstituted various committees, which have also started work," Dipankar Talukder told reporters at the Secretariat >more > http://bdnews24.com/details.php?id=145296&cid=2

Burmese Monk Arrested in Bangladesh

Bangladesh Rifles forces in a village of Nakhongchari Township in Bangladesh on Sunday because he could not speak Bangla when the BDR personnel questioned him, said Venerable U Thila Wantha.

The monk was identified as U Thu Zarda, who was living in Byin Madauk Chakamar Village of Baisari under Nakhongchari Township in the south of the Chittagong Hill Tract. >more> http://www.narinjara.com/details.asp?id=2381

HC appoints 2 amici curiae on CHT issue

he High Court (HC) yesterday appointed two senior lawyers as amicus curiae (friends of court) for expert opinions during the hearing on the HC rules regarding the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord.

The amici curiae are advocate TH Khan and barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud. >more> http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=110557

Scrap flawed land leases in CHT

A parliamentary standing committee yesterday asked the authorities concerned to scrap lease of about 27,250 acres of land in three hill districts for violating the lease contract given to 545 organisations and individuals.

The parliamentary standing committee on Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) affairs ministry also asked the ministry officials to ensure accountability and transparency of non-government organisations working in the hill areas.

"The committee in its meeting asked the deputy commissioner of Bandarban, Khagrachhari and Rangamati to take necessary steps to cancel lease of the hill lands allocated to as many as 545 individuals and organisations," Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing, a member of the committee, said. >more> http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=110383

30 Adivasi languages on verge of extinction

Education gradually turns inaccessible for the Adivasi people as the languages they speak are on the verge of extinction due mainly to a lack of practice.

Of the 30 existing Adivasi languages, at least seven have so far become endangered. Reduction in population in respective community and neglect by successive governments worsened the situation. >more> http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=110250

US sanctions Kurdish separatists

August 18th, 2009 DHAKA - Five Indian separatists have been arrested fromthe wooded hills of Khagrachhari in Bangladesh's Chittagong Hill Tracts,>more> http://blog.taragana.com/n/us-sanctions-kurdish-separatists-196517/

Govt strictly against it

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said if anyone of the country's law-enforcement agencies is found guilty of extra-judicial killings, they would be given stringent punishment.

She made the remark when Human Rights Ambassadors of the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany--Arjan Hamburger, Amold de Fine Skibsted and Gunter Nooke--paid a courtesy call on her at her office yesterday >more> http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=109805

Border dispute glitch in polls

At Holongi in Papum Pare district, 248-odd Chakma asserted their democraticrights as citizens of Arunachal Pradesh. “For the first time, we havecast our >more> http://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/12452cbddbbd7be0

Food crisis still prevails in remote areas of CHT

People of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) area are passing days amid concern about food supply in the aftermath of 2007 rodent attacks that caused massive destruction to their crops in fields and stores.

During the rat invasion (locally known as indur banya or rat flood), many people in the jhum cultivation areas had to depend on wild potatoes and banana trunk for survival as food problem turned serious.>more> http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=109610

Chakma Raja 'harassed' by Indian diplomats

Chakma Raja Tridib Roy, who sided with Pakistan during the 1971 war, has been "harassed" by Indian diplomats, sources close to him have alleged.

The octogenerian Raja, who had settled in Pakistan after the 1971 war and was even appointed a Pakistani ambassador, was not granted a visa to visit Bodh Gaya via Calcutta, where he wanted to fly in from Thailand.

"Rather, he has been asked to enter the country through Delhi, which is strange," said a family member, who did not wish to be identified. >more> http://bdnews24.com/details.php?id=144814&cid=2

UK Government blasts Vedanta for mistreatment of Oriya tribals

The damning verdict came after a nine month investigation into a complaint submitted by Survival International against Vedanta’s proposed bauxite mine on the Dongria Kondh’s sacred mountain.>more> http://blog.taragana.com/n/uk-government-blasts-vedanta-for-mistreatment-of-oriya-tribals-193651/

3 killed, bodies yet to be recovered

Three people were killed in a gunfight between two factions of a criminal group at Kamok Para village in Ruma upazila of Bandarban hill district early yesterday.

On information, police and security forces rushed to the spot but could not recover any body until yesterday noon. Search for the bodies in nearby deep forest was continuing as of filing of this report at 7:30pm. > More> http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=109323

Rights envoys from Europe due tomorrow

Human rights ambassadors of the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark will visit Bangladesh from October 11-15.

The three ambassadors--Arjan Hamburger of Netherlands, Gunter Nooke of Germany and Arnold de Fine Skibsted of Denmark--will take stock of the human rights situation in Bangladesh following the December, 2008 elections, said a press release of Dutch Embassy.

They will also share and exchange experiences with various partners and relevant authorities and continue the on-going dialogue on human rights issues between the European Union (EU) and the Government of Bangladesh.>more> http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=109090

PM wants more help from UN

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday sought UN recognition and its support for the development of Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation and Training (BIPSOT) to enhance its capacity.

She sought the support when the visiting UN Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations Alain Le Roy called on her at the Prime Minister's Office here.>more> http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=108960

Chittagong Hill Tracts: Refugees to be Reviewed

Chairman of Chittagong Hill Tracts Refugee Affairs Taskforce Jatindra Lal Tripura today [5th October] said they will review the list of refugees from India and internally displaced people very soon and take decision to rehabilitate them gradually.

He was talking to reporters at Khagrachhari Circuit House after its first meeting under the Awami League-led government."The taskforce members will sit every month to evaluate the progress and decide next initiatives to assist the helpless people," said Tripura.>more> http://www.unpo.org/content/view/10170/102/

HR violation in CHT alleged

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), a statutory independent body, yesterday expressed deep concern over some alleged incidents of violation of human rights in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) recently.

Ladu Moni Chakma, 55, of Sajek area on August 19 in 2009 and Ponemala, 50, on September 4, near her Jhum land in Chhoto Murapara in Shindukchhori mouza have been allegedly killed, said a press release of the NHRC. >more>
http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/10/06/news0920.htm

Probe violations of human rights

The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Commission yesterday expressed grave concern over the violations of human rights of the indigenous people at Sajek in Rangamati and urged the government to investigate the incidents immediately.

"As you are aware, tension between indigenous peoples (Paharis), Bengali settlers and the army has been rising in Sajek for many years, and has reached particularly intense levels over the past year," the commission said in a letter to the prime minister.>more> http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=107932

Separate land commission if necessary: Minister

The government, if it deems necessary, will form a separate land commission to resolve the land-related problems of the indigenous people of plain lands, said Land Minister Rezaul Karim Hira yesterday.

Talking to journalists after attending a seminar on 'Land Rights of the Indigenous People of the Plain Land', he said the government is committed to resolving all the problems of the indigenous people but it would take time.

Commenting on the objections from different organisations about the land survey in the Chittagong Hill Tracts scheduled to start on October 15, the minister said they opposed it as it went against their interest.>more> http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=107644

Khaleda warns govt against anti-nation deals

"They are deceiving people about the benefits of the Asian Highway. They are lying to people. They are actually giving a corridor to India in guise of Asian Highway," Khaleda further said.

Criticising the government's move to withdraw the army from Chittagong Hill Tracts, she said, "If the army is withdrawn from the hill tracts, Bangladesh will lose its control over the region." >more >
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/latest_news.php?nid=19591

It was this way in the early 1970s

It is not merely the men who see national sovereignty slipping away with the withdrawal of soldiers from the Chittagong Hill Tracts who must be watched. It is not just elements who, as is their forte, have consistently seen the Awami League "selling out" Bangladesh to India and who therefore pose the biggest threat to the government and to this nation. There are too the malcontents and the positively disgraceful ones within the circles of the ruling dispensation -- the marauding factions of the Chhatra League, the tender-seizing elements of the Jubo League, et al -- that need ruthless handling. But ruthless, meaningful governance happens when the government of the day steps back, observes what has been going wrong and then resumes its walk with new perspectives in mind.> more> http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=107535

Ansar-VDP bank starts functioning

Ansar-VDP Development Bank has started functioning by opening a branch at Bhedbhedi in the town from Sunday. Adjutant of Rangamati district Ansar-VDP, Habibur Rahman Husseiny formally opened the branch as the chief guest.

The function was attended by the officials of Ansar and Village Defense Party, stationed at different places in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and adjoining areas.>more> http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/09/29/news0341.htm