Diplomats, former army officers and academics noted that running of a parallel economy of rent seeking by certain groups is a major challenge to ensure peace in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).
They also recommended addressing interests of all the stakeholders for full implementation of the CHT Peace Accord 1997.
They also highlighted ownership of land as well as lack of communal harmony as thorny issues, which put obstacles in implementing the treaty.
They said these while speaking at the launching ceremony of a book, titled 'Regional Security and CHT Peace Accord 1997: An Unfinished Peace Building Model of Bangladesh', by Brig Gen Md Nasimul Gani held at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital on Monday.
Md Touhid Hossain, Foreign Affairs Adviser, and Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Hafiz, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser (CA) on Defense and National Integration Development, were the chief guest and the special guest in the programme respectively.
Professor Salimullah Khan and the author also spoke in the programme.
The foreign affairs adviser stressed the need for taking all the stakeholders in the CHT region on board to ensure peace there.
"The unfinished peace building effort needs to be finished. You don't have to finish it in a day, but you need to take actions so that peace can return to the CHT."
He said the detractors will try, in their own interest, to obstruct the peace-building process. But the country needs to continue taking the right steps to convince all the groups in the hilly region that peace is needed for their own interest. When they will find that peace is in their interest, they will go for it.
However, the adviser pointed out that the groups, who are being benefitted from lack of peace in the CHT, may oppose it.
In this regard he mentioned that an elaborate system of rent seeking has already been established in the CHT. Residents in the region have to pay regular amounts to 'people in uniform'.
"They come in uniform with guns. They are not the state actors. But still they have sort of uniform and establishment, and they seek money. Now this is the easiest way of living for them."
"So, there are two aspects. One is the security aspect. The other is the economic aspect," he added.
Lt Gen (Rtd) Hafiz said the author of the book served in the CHT region for long five and a half years, and he saw the conflict there.
"This book is published at a time when the interim government is facing security challenges in maintaining communal and social harmony among the people living in the CHT."
Pointing out to the recent situation in the CHT, the special assistant to the CA said, "In last September, we witnessed a great deal of commotion, agitation and unrest. Five-six advisers had to rush there following a mob justice and killing of people by mob, which erupted large-scale violence within a span of three-four days."
Now, the issues, which have been persistent in the CHT since 1976 or even before that, have a number of dimensions. "First, it has an ethno-religious dimension. Definitely, it has a political dimension. The people, the ethnic groups, in general, want to have a political identity. They want to have some kind of autonomy for themselves."
"It has a military dimension, as there has been an insurgency. Consequently, there has been a counter insurgency."
"It has a deep-rooted issue of land ownership. We have to decide who would own the land. In what capacity and in what procedure, the land ownership issue could be resolved. And of course, there is an economic dimension of the conflict that has been present in the CHT."
"Now, it had been assumed that the peace accord signed in 1997 would bring durable and long-term peace in general. Unfortunately, after 27 years of signing the accord, peace has not been established. We do not see any stability and security."
He stressed the need for finding out why many of the 72 clauses, mentioned in the peace accord, have not been implemented by the successive governments during the last 27 years.
"There is an unabated toll collection, a parallel economy being run by those, who are not amenable to the peace accord, and who have not signed the peace accord."
The CA's special assistant suggested that the law-enforcers, particularly the military, have to focus on engaging the community and taking the community together.
Peace and stability in the CHT have broader implication for regional security because of its proximity to the neighbouring countries. Peace and stability in the region are crucial - not just for Bangladesh, but for ensuring security of the entire region, he opined.
"Whatever happens in the CHT has an implication on the same community, who are living across the border in Mizoram or Nagaland. It has implication for the same ethnic groups that are living in parts of Myanmar."
Gen Hafiz underscored the need for collective efforts - from the local communities, the government, and the international partners. People's participation and consultation must go side by side with the armed forces.
He said the interim government is committed to continue playing an active role in support of the peace process, while ensuring security in the CHT region.
"We encourage further discussion among the government agencies, security forces and civil society to address the challenges," he added.
Professor Salimullah Khan said the present constitution lacks provisions to ensure the issue of self respect for the CHT people, as it terms Bangladesh as the land of Bengalees.
He suggested that the hilly people must be convinced that peace is needed for their own interest. He also blamed the previous governments for taking measures, which have further alienated those people instead of taking them on board.
© 2025 - All Rights with The Financial Express
