The Daily Star, Vol. 4 Num 333
Sat. May 08, 2004
Our Correspondent, Bandarban
Parbatya Chattagram Jano Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) enforces a dawn-to-dusk
hartal in the three hill districts today to press home their four-point
demand.
The demands include implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT)
peace accord signed on December 2, 1997, removal of CHT Development
Board Chairman Wadud Bhuiyan MP, withdrawal of army, Armed Police
Battalion (APBN), ansar and VDP camps from the hill region and inclusion
of an indigenous person as CHT affairs minister in the cabinet.
The PCJSS started agitation afresh after Mohalchhari arson attack
allegedly by Bangalee settlers. It enforced a 72-hour road blockade
programme in the three hill districts last week.
Sources said Bangalee settlers under the banner of Somo Odhikar Parishad
are preparing to launch an anti-hartal programme in Khagrachhari.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in three hill districts --
Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban -- to maintain law and order
during hartal hours.