Making the CHT treaty a win-win for all

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Critics say that the ground realities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) do not match the terms and provisions of the peace treaty the previous Awami League government signed with Shanti Bahini. The treaty, according to them, was less than fair to the rest of the population in Bangladesh. They say it compromises the nation's political and territorial interests.
It is time to seriously consider how far the treaty is less than fair to Bangalis, who constitute a majority of the CHT population. The status of the Bangalis must not be degraded. This is equally true of the members of the tribal communities in the CHT who are also the citizens of Bangladesh by birth. And all citizens are equal in the eye of the law. The Constitution of the country ensures this. If the treaty stripped Bangalis or tribals of their right to own property in the CHT, it should be critically examined. All citizens, living in the CHT, should have the unfettered right to run government administration there. There must not be any curbing of their political and civil rights. A treaty has to be fair in all sense so that it can bring durable peace. Meanwhile, the tribal population who have been in the CHT must have some safety-valve to protect their inalienable socio-cultural rights; they must not be victims of any unfair or forceful action to deny them their due rights.
The mainstream population of a country must also not be marginalised, politically, economically and culturally.
The treaty has to stand the test of time. It would, therefore, be advisable to review the terms of the treaty to ensure a win-win situation for all.
Abdur Rahim
Sector 3, Uttara, Dhaka