PM vows to execute CHT peace accord

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina Sunday reiterated her government's firm commitment to implement the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) peace accord for maintaining peace and continuing development in the region, reports BSS. "It is our responsibility to execute the CHT peace agreement. We will also implement the agreement the way we signed it," she categorically said while inaugurating the 'Fifth Cultural Diversity Festival-2011 for Ethnic Minority Communities' at Osmani Memorial Hall in the city. The Prime Minister also said there should not be any confusion about implementation of the CHT peace agreement. "We want cooperation of all in this regard," she said. The CHT Affairs Ministry in cooperation with the CHT Development Facility under the UN Development Programme (UNDP) organised the festival. With State Minister for CHT Affairs Dipankar Talukdar in the chair, the function was addressed, among others, by Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Abul Kalam Azad and State Minister for Cultural Affairs Advocate Promod Mankin. Head of European Delegation in Bangladesh William Hanna, UN Resident Coordinator Neal Walker and CHT Affairs Secretary Naba Bikram Kishore Tripura also spoke on the occasion. The Prime Minister said the main objective of the peace agreement was to resolve the long-standing conflict in the region and to expedite the socioeconomic development process of all citizens in the CHT. Listing various steps for implementing the peace agreement, she said her government is sincerely working to execute it. "A major portion of the accord has so far been implemented, while the government is taking steps to implement the rest of the agreement," she said. She said the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council and Chittagong Hill Tracts Land Commission-all have been constituted as part of implementation of the peace agreement. The Prime Minister said the taskforce on repatriation of refugees returned from India and the determination of internal tribal evacuees has been formed. "An implementation committee with the deputy leader in parliament as the convener has been constituted to oversee the implementation process of the accord." She said a significant advancement has been achieved in education and health sectors besides the massive infrastructural development in the hill districts through establishment of roads, bridges and culverts during the tenure of the present government. "We have decided to build a science and ICT university and a medical college in Rangamati for all residents," she said.