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Published by Jumma Peoples Alliance, July 1998
On December 2, 1997 the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS or JSS) and the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh signed an Accord in Dhaka with an aim to resolve the CHT problem.
There also has been an unwritten agreement between the two sides that Bengali settlers are to be rehabilitated outside CHT (i.e. in plain districts) and for this purpose, the cluster villages will be dismantled and free ration supply will be stopped by the government.
ln accordance with the terms and conditions of the Accord the JSS members returned to normal life and deposited their arms and ammunition on February 10, 16, 22 and March 05, 1998.
Since the Accord was made about 6 (six) months are going to be passed away. But, there has been observed no significant development in the implementation of the Accord.
On December 22, 1997 the cabinet of BD government approved the Peace Accord. On April 12, 1998 the 4 (four) bills - Rangamati Hill District Local Government Council (amendment) Bill, 1998; Khagrachari Hill District Local Government Council (amendment) Bill, 1998; Bandarban hill District Local Government Council (amendment) Bill, 1 998 and the CHT Regional Council Bil1, 1998 were introduced in the parliament. After discussion on them the parliament sent them to a 15-members Special Committee headed by Advocate Rahmat Ali, MP of Awami League. There were some remarkable inconsistencies in the bills for which the JSS demanded meeting with the government. Moreover, local Jumma leaders and organizations (the PCP, the PGP and the HWF) also lodged protests against the said inconsistencies. The government and the JSS held meeting in Dhaka on April 18 - 20, 1998 on them and made necessary amendments as the Peace Accord.
On April 29, 1998 the Special Committee formed with MPs of Awami League, BNP and Jatiya Party submitted the amended bills with their opinions to the parliament. The said amended bills also included some inconsistencies. The JSS sent one man delegation to Dhaka on May 03, 1998 who held meeting with Abut Hasanat Abdullah, Chief Whip and Convener of the CHT Accord Implementation Committee, Zillur Rahman, Deputy Leader and LGRD Minister, Suranjit Sengupta, Advisor on Law and Parliament Affairs and Dr. Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir.
On May 03, 04, 05 and 06, 1998 the parliament respectively passed the Rangamati HDLGC (amendment) Bill, 1998; Khagrachari HDLGC (amendment) Bill, 1998; Bandarban HDLGC (amendment) Bill, 1998 and CHT Regional Council Bill, 1998. The amended Rangamati HDLGC (amendment) Bill, 1998 was passed before the meeting between the JSS delegates and the government delegates took place. The said amended bill that was passed on May 03, 1998 included a few inconsistencies with the Peace Accord. Moreover, an amendment motion tabled by H. M. Ershad of Jatiya Party, which is giving support to the government, was passed in the parliament where the Awami League has simple majority. The said amendment motion was on the definition of “the non-tribal permanent resident” (Non-tribal permanent resident shall mean a person who is not a tribal and who has lands of lawful entitlement in the hip district and who generally lives in the hit district at a particular address) and the word “and” used in the words “lands of lawful entitlement in the hilt district and who” was replaced with the word “or”. This amendment affected the Accord and its aim and object as a whole.
All sections of Jumma peoples of CHT protested against it and held meetings in Khagrachari, Rangamati and Bandarban districts. The bills were sent to the President on May 14 and he assented on them on May 24, 1998. It has been learnt that the government has given commitment to amend the inconsistencies of the Rangamati Hill District Local Government Council (amendment) Bill/Act, 1998 during the next Budget Session scheduled to be commenced in the first half of June 1998.
On May 16, 1998 meeting was held between a 3-member JSS delegation led by JSS President and a 3-member Bangladesh delegation (Abul Hasanat Abdullah, Kalpa Ranjan Chakma and Dipankar Talukder) in Khagrachari about constitution of the interim CHT Regional Council.
The JSS submitted a list of the 22-members (including the Chairman) to constitute the Council. Although there was unwritten agreement between the two sides about selection of all Councilors by the JSS, but the government is presently not willing to accept the said list. The government is trying to include its own persons in the Council according to their choice. As a result, there is every possibility of arising problems about formation of the Interim CHT RC.
In the Accord there is a provision that the temporary camps of army, VDP and Ansar will be withdrawn from CHT and time-limit will be determined for it. But, neither time limit has yet been determined nor any camp has been withdrawn from CHT. The local armies are still involved in the administration of CHT.
Arms from Village Defense Party (VDP) in CHT were taken back by the army in March, 1998 but on the plea of unrest or chaos and confusion (particularly created by the government forces and the Bengali settlers), VDP in Taindong Union of Matiranga thana under Khagrachari and Baghaichari thana in Rangamati district have been provided arms again in April, 1998. The JSS protested against this step.
Before signing the Accord the National Committee on behalf of the government of Bangladesh gave commitment to the JSS that the Bengali settlers would be withdrawn from CHT to other plain districts. Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina also gave commitment to the JSS President on December 02, 1997 during an interview with the JSS delegation that Bengali settlers would be transferred to other districts.
For this purpose, the govt. would stop providing ration to the Bengali settlers and dismantle the cluster villages of them. But, till today no such steps have been taken by the government. Rather, the govt. authorities are formulating projects and providing more facilities for their rehabilitation in CHT.
1) Harendra Karbari Para, 53 Kabakhali Mouza;
2)Tangya Karbar’I Para, 53 Kabakhall Mouza;
3)Rasiknagar Para, 30 Baromerung Mouza;
4)Juro Mohon Karbari Para, 30 Baromerung Mouza;
5)Bipin Karbari Para, 29 Chotamerung Mouza,.
6)Phulchan Karbari Para, 29 Chotamerung Mouza;
7)Biro Bahu Headman Para, 55 Chota Hazachara Mouza.
Homesteads and orchards not got returned - 1,105 families
Agricultural lands have not got returned - 562 families
Lands and homesteads have not got returned total=1.667 families.
1) Bashikya Chakma wife of Late Jamini Kumar Chakma could not return to her homestead at Kalachand Mohajan Para of 30 Baromerung mouza in Dighinala Thana due to presence of Ansar Camp there.
2) Mohini Chakma, W/o. Late Bishnu Chakma, village- Bibhuti Karbari Para of 30 Baromerung mouza under Dighinala Thana could not return to her homestead due to presence of a palice camp there.
3) Anita Ranjan Chakma, son of Late Nabadwip Chakma, village Shushil Headman Para of 29 Chotamerung mouza under Dighinala could not return to his homestead due to presence of Ansar camp there.
4) Deva Kumar Chakma, S/o. Late Taruni Sen Chakma of village Rashyamuni Karbari Para of 52 Pablakhall mouza under Dighinala thana could not return to his homestead due to presence of Ansar camp there.
5) Shanti Ranjan Chakma of village Shontilla of 242 Pujgang mouza under Panchari Thana could not return to his homestead due to presence of an army camp there.
6) Kaladhan Chakma, S/o. Dibakar Chakma of village Kukichara of Gasbon mouza under Khagrachari Sadar thana due to presence of an army camp there.
7) Shanti Bikash Chakma, S/o. Sagar Kumar Chakma and 34 other families of village Purbo Nalkata of 241 Latiban mouza under Panchari Thana could not return to their homesteads due to presence of Nalkata army camp. They are still staying Nalkata Primary School, As a result, their children are beimg deprived from education.
1) On February 27, 1998 Shashi Ranjan Chakma, S/o. Suryo Mohon Chakma, a refugee returnee of Bachamaram of 30 Baromerung mouza under Dighinala thana was killed by 3 Bengall serilers including Abu Taher Jamadar, S/o. Sobhan of village Bhanu Kinkar Para, Bachamaram of Baromerung mouza. His wife suited case against the culprits. But, no proper punishment was inflicted on them.
2) On March 20, 1998 Mrs. Jayanti Prabha Chakma (32), W/o.Padma Sen Chakma of village Madhyo Boalkhali under Dighinala Thana while working lonely at their own field was raped by a Bengali settler named Abdul, son of Mozaffar of Boalkhali. The victim suited case against the culprit but no step has taken by the government authority.
3) On March 29, 1998 Kantimoy Chakma, a refugee returnee of Gabochari in Rengkarjya mouza under Dighinala Thana was killed on his way home with his bullocks received from the government authority.
a) Cash grant and ration supply
JSS members received Tk.50000 per head. The government is to provide ration (i.e. rice, pulse, soybean oil and salt) for one year in the coming days. JSS members are presently facing lots of problems including housing problems also.
b) Reinstatement in the jobs and services
Reinstatement of JSS members in the jobs and services is under process. The government authorities have not been found favorable and co-operative. As a result, the JSS members who have been applied for reinstatement to their former jobs and services are facing troubles.
c) Release of JSS members
The JSS submitted a list of its members who were apprehended by security forces and presently staying in Jails to the government for their unconditional release. But, none of them has yet been released.
d) Withdrawal of cases
There is a provision in the Accord that the cases and punishments of the JSS members would have to be withdrawn by the government including the persons who were involved with the JSS activities. But, till today no cases have been withdrawn.
There are few students and youths led by Proshit Bikash Khisa and Sanchoy Chakma who are opposing the Accord and the JSS. There are also some settlers led by the BNP and Jamat-E-Islam who are always making attempts to create chaos and confusion in CHT.
Besides, there are some vested interested persons in the govt. authorities who are indirectly and secretly involved in making chaos in the region.
On the plea of maintaining law & order the government authorities have already involved the local army authorities.
With an aim to assess the requirements for development in CHT, the Needs Assessment Committee headed by Mr. Ali Haider Khan, Addl. Secretary (Retired) visited CHT and had talks with various sections of people including the JSS and the PCP, the PGP.
The Jana Samhati Samiti, hill Peoples Council, Hill Students Council, the Jumma Refugee Welfare Association and individuals gave opinion that priority should be given mainly for rehabilitation of Jumma refugee returnees, JSS members and Jumma evacuees in CHT as wall as transfer of Bengali settlers from CHT to other districts and rehabilitation of them outside CHT (i.e. in the plain districts). They demanded development projects in agriculture, horticulture, pisciculture, education, health and sanitation, drinking water, youth and women welfare etc. But, they expressed that they do not favor further construction of road networks because of ecological balance and environment. They explained that the existing road network was adequate for the time being. They pointed out that the existing road network also has become harmful for protection and preservation of forests and conservation of soil. So, further construction of road network in CHT would cause serious problem for environment. They also expressed their views and past experiences on how the poor people were exploited and withered away. They opined that it is more important to involve the local people at grass-roots level in assessing the needs, designing and implementing all the development projects/programs. The short and long term impact of the development interventions also shall have to be looked into so that the distinct culture of Jumma peoples would not banish. The environmental and socio economical aspects shall have to be taken into consideration even the direct and/or indirect benefit and the beneficiaries to be determined before undertaking any development programs.
It is very much unpleasant that the report submitted by the mission has not reflected the suggestions given by the local leaders. Rather, some controversial statements, suggestions and recommendations have been made that would undermine the development of the Jummas.
The local government authorities manned by the Bengali Muslims are not favorable to the Jumma peoples. So, the Jummas are quite unsafe till today. They are being victimized in all possible ways. Few instances are given below:
Yet the Bengali settlers brought out procession on April 07 at Boalkhall of Dighinala Thana claiming that the said children killed by Jumma people. Bengali settlers also looted the Jumma passers by at Boalkhali-Dighinala road.
On the plea of the said incident, Bengali settlers of Kabakhali set fire to two Jumma houses at Joy Kumar Karbari Para of Kabakhali. The victims were (1) Mrs. Nigira Bala Chakma; and (2) Mr. Surjya Mohon Chakma.
On April 13, 1998, a high level team of BD government including Mr. Rafiqul Islam (Home Minister), Mr. Abul Hasanat Abdullah, Chief Whip & Convener of the Accord Implementation Committee along with several government officials visited Dighinala in order to observe the situation on ground and herd a public meeting there. In the meeting the Home Minister declared Tk.50,000 compensation for each Bengali settler victim. But, they did not grant any compensation for the family members of Shashi Ranjan Chakma who was killed and the houses that were burnt to ashes by the Bengali settlers.
Presently ecological balance is endangered very seriously as because
1) The Bengali settlers are still to an extent dependent on forest products. They illegally collect woods, bamboo, shungrass etc. from forests and sell them out for their day to day livelihood. As a result, hilltops covered by dense forests are going to be barren lends;
2) Jumma people who were pushed to remote areas and the businessmen from CHT and outside CHT are illegally destroying forest products in large scale.
3) Wild animals like elephant, deer etc. are recently being hunted freely in the reserve forests of Kassalong and Reinkhyong of Rangamati district, Maini reserve forest of Khagrachari district and Shanka and Matamuhuri reserve forests of Bandarban district.
It is notable that previously forest products and wild animals of reserve forests were safe to an extent due to control by the JSS members there.
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Published by Jumma Peoples Alliance, July 1998