28th anniv of CHT accord observed

The 28th anniversary of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord was observed in the city on Tuesday, says a statement.
Supradip Chakma, adviser on the CHT affairs, extended his greetings and congratulations to the people of all strata in the CHT marking the day.
The adviser was addressing as the chief guest a seminar titled 'The Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord: Transforming Harmony into Prosperity,' organised by the Ministry of CHT Affairs.
The adviser also stated that this agreement was not merely a political compromise; it was a noble commitment founded on the principles of peace, coexistence, and fairness, while maintaining full and unwavering allegiance to the sovereignty and integrity of Bangladesh under the country's Constitution.
He said the CHT Accord is fundamentally an understanding between the people of the CHT and the government. He described this understanding as a positive aspect for all. He recalled a conversation while he was in Sri Lanka, where an elite Tamil citizen asked him for his view on the CHT Accord.
He had responded that the CHT Accord is definitely a positive development for everyone.
In his speech as the chair of the seminar, Md. Abdul Khaleque, secretary of the Ministry of CHT Affairs, said, "We must move forward by overcoming challenges."
He expressed the desire to progress toward preparing for a fair election through quick voting in the three CHT District Councils.
The secretary stated that nothing should be done to harm the environment of the CHT, emphasising that preserving the ecological balance is very crucial.
He mentioned that the government is considering creating a Master Plan for this purpose. The most attractive part of the seminar was an excellent projector presentation by keynote speaker, Additional Secretary Md. Monirul Islam. He highlighted all the successes of the government since the CHT Accord, including a 1,080 per cent budget increase.
Other speakers at the seminar included Dr Rashida Ferdous NDC, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of CHT Affairs; Gautam Kumar Chakma, member of the CHT Regional Council; and Lt. Col. (Retd.) Parimal Bikash Chakma PSC.