Daily Star 29th December 2002
Nurul Alam, Chittagong
Some tribal elites are trying to bring back former tribal chief 'Raja' Tridib
Roy of Rangamati from Pakistan to float a political party in Chittagong Hill
Tracts (CHT) to counter the Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS),
sources said.
Tridib Roy, father of incumbent Rangamati Chakma circle chief Debashish Roy,
is in self-exile in Pakistan since 1971. He went to Pakistan because of his
role as a collaborator during the War of Independence and did not return to
his homeland fearing backlash.
The tribal elites unhappy with PCJSS are also lobbying with the government to bring back Tridib Roy, possibly in February next.
The sources said frequent gunfights between activists of PCJSS and UPDF (United People's Democratic Front) after signing of the CHT peace agreement in December 1997 angered some tribal elites and residents there. PCJSS signed the agreement. UPDF opposes it.
"This prompted them to take a move for launching a third front to protect the interests of tribal people as well as to restore peace in the hills", one source said.
The tribal elites are also trying to involve Debashish Roy in their efforts.
Talking to The Daily Star, B K Dewan, former advisor to Ershad government on CHT affairs, said, "I know Tridib Roy is supposed to arrive here on a visit to attend an installation ceremony to declare his grandson as prince.
"Efforts are on to give Tridib Roy a reception. So far I know there is no embargo from the government side on his arrival here", Dewan said.
"But I don't know whether there is any plan to float a political party involving Tridib Roy" he added.
A senior government official in CHT on condition of anonymity said tribal leaders unhappy with PCJSS are discussing "internally" to involve Tridib Roy in CHT politics.
When contacted over telephone, Debashish Roy said his father may come to Bangladesh for a visit "any time in future".
"But my father told me with all seriousness that he has no intention at all to get involved in any political activity here", Debashish said.
Debashish said he visited Pakistan one and a half years ago to meet his father.
"At that time I had a discussion with my father on whether he wants to come home to do politics. He totally declined," he said.
Tridib Roy was Pakistan's envoy in some foreign countries after independence of Bangladesh as he was all along loyal to the Pakistani government.
It may be noted that, Binita Roy, mother of Tridib Roy, was advisor to president Ziaur Rahman.