http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/03/23/d40323011313.htm
The Daily Star, Vol. 4 Num 292
Tue. March 23, 2004
UNB, Dhaka
The minister in charge of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs in
parliament MK Anwar yesterday told the House that some provisions of the
CHT peace accord which are inconsistent with the constitution needed to
be reviewed.
Those provisions, he said, would be placed before the House for
consideration.
Replying to a supplementary question from Mehidi Ahmed Rumi (BNP), the
minister said apart from such inconsistent provisions in the accord,
signed by the previous Awami League government, the government has been
implementing the peace accord.
Anwar said many provisions of the CHT accord, specially those about the
Ministry of CHT Affairs, CHT Regional Council, rehabilitation of tribal
refugees, have been implemented. He said preparation for the voters'
list in the CHT could not be compiled because of a court stay order.
Replying to another question from Maj (retd) Manjur Kader (BNP), the
minister admitted that there were problems in carrying out development
works in the CHT because of the existence of two conflicting groups one
favouring implementation of the peace accord and the other opposing it.
Anwar told the House that in 2003-04 fiscal year under the Annual
Development Programme different projects amounting to Tk 136.57 crore
have been taken up in the three hill districts. Besides, different
donors and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are carrying out uplift
schemes in the CHT, he added.