The Daily Star, Vol. 4 Num 236 Thu. January 22, 2004 Front Page
Our Correspondent, Khagrachhari
The task force on refugees in the Chittagong Hill Tracks (CHT) met yesterday after about four years but failed to take up the issues on the agenda as a representative of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) and a refugee leader on the body boycotted the meet.
Sudhasindhu Khisa of the PCJSS and refugee leader Santosit Chakma did not join the 12th meeting of the task force alleging it was convened without following rules.
They had also walked out of its 11th meeting in May 2000 protesting what they
said was inclusion of Bangalees in the refugee list.
Chairman of the taskforce Shamiran Dewan said yesterday's meeting did not discuss
any issue on its agenda and took no decision.
" If they (PCJSS man and refugee leader) had any objections regarding the meeting, they could raise those at the meeting," he added.
"The divisional commissioner (secretary of the taskforce) sent a letter to us through his personal secretary about the meeting. It is a violation of rules and that's why we did not attend the meeting," Santosit Chakma said.
The divisional commissioner however expressed his surprise over the alleged violation of rules in convening the meeting.
The previous AL government formed the taskforce and made Dipankar Talukdar its chairman with the status of a state minister.
The body took initiatives to rehabilitate about 138,000 people identifying
them as refugees repatriated from India. But the PCJSS and Jumma Refugee Welfare
Association protested identifying around 38,000 Bangalees as refugees.
The task force virtually became inactive after that.
Meanwhile, Jumma refugees held a rally in the Dighinala yesterday demanding proper rehabilitation.