Daily Star, 13 December 2001

News Headline: CHT land commission to start
functioning soon

Our Correspondent, Khagrachhari

The land commission to settle the land disputes in
three Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) districts-
Rangamati, Banderban and Khagrachhari will start
functioning soon.
The commission, established according to the CHT peace
treaty signed on December 2, 1997, includes the
provision of appointing a retired Supreme Court judge
as its chairman and another judge as secretary.

Justice (Rtd) AM Mahmudur Rahman, the newly appointed
chairman of the commission, went to Khagrachhari and
Rangamatti on a two day visit for this purpose.

Justice Rahman was appointed the chairman of the
commission by the BNP-led coalition government on
November 1.

According to Khagrachhari district administration, a
room in the district Judge Court building has been
allocated for setting up of the head office of the
commission following the discussion between the
chairman and the deputy commissioner. The regional
offices will be set up at Rangamati and Banderban.

The chairman also exchanged views with CHT Regional
Parisad chairman and PCJSS chief Jotirindra Bodhipriya
Larma alias Santu Larma who is a member of the
commission. Other members of the commission include
chiefs of three ethnic groups (Chakma, Mong and
Bomang), chairmen of three districts and the
divisional commissioner of Chittagong.

Sources said two officials and 11 staffs have already
been appointed to run the commission.

A bill was passed in the Jatiya Sangsad by the then
Awami League government regarding allocation of fund
for appointing officials and running the office.

The AL government also appointed three retired judges
in three phases as the chairman of the commission but
no development was visible.

However, the incumbent chairman has achieved a
significant progress by setting up of the head office
of the commission at Khagrachhari and regional offices
at Rangamati and Banderban.

Justice Rahman talking to the local journalists
expressed the hope that the commission will be able to
settle the prolonged land disputes of CHT if necessary
cooperation is extended to it from all quarters.