Speakers at a seminar in the city on Tuesday laid emphasis on further development of the people of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) by creating a conducive society through inclusiveness.
The speakers laid emphasis on better communication system, quality education for all apart from developing an eco-tourism for bringing in positive changes in the CHT. They stressed on the economic development of the CHT region, reports UNB.
They said there should be confidence-building measures, and the people of the CHT should be made part of the development process.
Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) arranged the seminar, titled 'The People of Chittagong Hill Tracts and Their Development Needs', with BIISS chairman ambassador Mushi Faiz Ahmad in the chair.
Prime minister's foreign affairs adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi spoke at the seminar as the chief guest while information commissioner Prof Dr Khurshida Begum Sayeed presented the keynote paper.
Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Secretary Naba Bikram Kishore Tripura and international relations expert Prof Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, among others, took part in the discussion.
Speaking as the chief guest, Dr Rizvi said they will have to find out a complete way of inclusiveness to make people part of development process saying creating a conducive society comes from inclusiveness.
Laying emphasis on recognising diversity, Dr Rizvi said the diversity is not weaknesses, it is rather strength. "Diversity makes Bangladesh today a stronger, more beautiful, more progressive and more interesting place," he added.
Dr Rizvi reassured the government's commitment, and emphasised the economic development of the CHT region.
Naba Bikram Tripura said the government of Bangladesh is committed to socio-economic development of the CHT. "Therefore, more intensive action and confidence-building measures must be taken to bring the people of the CHT in main stream development."
The chief of general staff of Bangladesh Army, senior civil and military officials, including former secretaries, ambassadors, members of academia, representatives from diplomatic missions, representatives of CHT and think-tanks, scholars and policymakers participated in the open discussion session and expressed their opinions and made suggestions.
