Staff Reporter:
Bangladesh has highlighted progress in implementing the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord and measures for ethnic communities’ development at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
Secretary of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Mohammad Mizanur Rahman made the re-marks at the 25th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at the UN Head-quarters in New York on Tuesday, according to a message received in Dhaka yesterday.
He said the Constitution of Bangladesh guarantees equal rights to all citizens regardless of religion, community, race, gender or place of birth.
Referring to the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord, he said its provisions are being implemented through an inclusive and participatory process.
Of the 72 clauses, 65 have already been fully implemented, three partially implemented and four remain under implementation.
The secretary also apprised the forum of government measures to ensure security in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, maintain environmental balance, conduct land surveys and management initiatives to resolve land disputes, and accelerate overall regional development.
The Bangladesh delegation also included Chairman of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board Anup Kumar Chakma and representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office, Foreign Ministry and ethnic communities from the hills and plains.
