Besides, among others, State Minister for Ministry of the CHT Affairs (MoCHTA) Mr. Dipankar Talukdar, MP; Chairman of the CHT Development Board Mr. Bir Bahadur, MP; Chairman of the CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission Mr. Khademul Islam; Secretary of MoCHTA Mr. Masud Ahmed and Divisional Commissioner of Chittagong division were also invited in the meeting.

The main agenda of the meeting was to assess the progress of the implementation of the CHT Accord. Among others, amendment of CHT Land Dispute Resolution Act 2001 as per recommendation of CHT Regional Council, transfer of subjects to the three Hill District Councils (HDCs), approval of Rules of CHT Regional Council and three HDCs; setting up of separate offices for CHT Accord Implementation Monitoring Committee, CHT Land Commission and Task Force and appointment of adequate staffs for proper functioning of these offices, withdrawal of all temporary camps and de facto military rule ‘Operation Uttoron’ etc were discussed in the meeting.

In particular, transfer of subject to the HDCs prioritizing law and order, police (local), land and land management, secondary education, environment, youth development, local tourism etc through office order instead of the agreement between the HDC and concerned ministry were discussed.

Finally, decisions were made to set up three separate offices for the CHT Accord Implementation Monitoring Committee, CHT Land Commission and Task Force and to take effective measures for appointment of adequate staffs and providing logistic support for proper functioning of these offices.

In the meeting the issues of Land disputes and land survey were emphatically discussed. The Chairman of Land Commission emphasized for the land survey at the moment. Mr. Bir Bahadur, MP and J B Larma, President of PCJSS in particular explained that unless land disputes were resolved through the Land Commission land survey could not be arranged in CHT.

Coordination Meeting of MoCHTA held
On 20 October 2009 a coordination meeting was held by the Ministry of the CHT Affairs (MoCHTA) at the conference hall of MoCHTA in Dhaka. Presided over by Mr. Dipankar Talukdar, State Minister of MoCHTA, the following persons were present in the meeting-
(1)   Mr. Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, Chairman, CHT Regional Council
(2)   Mr. Jatindra Lal Tripura, MP and Chairman, Task Force on Rehabilitation of the Returnee Refugees and IDPs
(3)   Mr. Bir Bahadur, MP and Chairman of the CHT Development Board
(4)   Mr. Kyashwehla Marma, Chairman, Bandarban Hill District Council
(5)   Mr. Nikhil Kumar Chakma, Chairman, Rangamati Hill District Council
(6)   Mr. Ruithi Marma, Chairman, Khagrachari Hill District Council
(7)   Mr. Khademul Islam, Chairman, CHT Land Dispute Commission
(8)   Mr. Masud Ahmed, Secretary  and other Officials of MoCHTA
(9)   Secretary of Land Ministry
(10)  Dr. Aslam Alam, Director General of  Directorate of Land Survey and Settlement
(11)  Three Deputy Commissioners of three Hill Districts
(12)  Superintendent of Police, Bandarban Hill district
(13)  Mr. Jafar Ahmed, Additional Superintendent of Police, Khagrachari Hill district
(14)  Additional Superintendent of Police, Rangamati Hill district

Discussion was held on the matters of law and order situation, land issues, brick field, development projects etc. of CHT in the meeting.

CHTRC Chairman Mr. J B Larma raised the issues of the implementation of the CHT Accord, transfer of subject to the HDCs prioritizing law and order, police (local), land and land management, secondary education, environment, youth development, local tourism etc; withdrawal of all temporary camps and de facto military rule ‘Operation Uttoron’; approval of Rules of CHT Regional Council and three HDCs; setting up of offices for the Task Force and Land Commission etc.

Jatindra Lal Tripura and Mr. Bir Bahadur said that Land survey should be, as per CHT Accord, conducted after resolution of the land disputes and rehabilitation of Jumma Refugees and internally Displaced Jumma Families.

In the meeting the Deputy Commissioners spoke about the law and order situation. Sourendranath Chakraborty, DC of  Rangamati told that the law and order situation in the district was well. Incidents compared to Plain districts were less. But there were elements, who all the time made attempts to highlight the situation the worst just to create chaos. He explained how based on a  rumour some elements (Bengalee muslims) got fullest preparation to set fire on the houses (of Jumma People) at Tribal Adam of Banarupa Area of Rangamati District Headquarter at deep night around 1.30 am on 01 September 2009. He personally went the spot and stopped the incident.

It is noted that there was instigation from the Settlers’ leaders in collaboration with some local army commanders.

The Jumma people too were ready to resist the communal rioters.

DC of Bandarban reported that in the recent months 19 persons of Neighbouring Myanmar were killed and 11 arms were captured including three persons of so-called CHTNF (Chittagong Hill Tracts National Liberation Front), a small band of extortionists.

DC of Khagrachari reported the incident of arrest of Islamic terrorists on 3 October 2009 in Matiranga Thana Area.

Additional Superintendent Police (SP) of Khagrachari blamed UPDF (United Peoples Democratic Front) for extortion of money and creating chaos through holding rallies recently and he demanded banning of it.

In the meeting Mr. Khademul Islam, Chairman of the Land commission opined that he was a Justice and would function independently and would start land survey in CHT at the moment.

Mr. J B Larma told that Chairman of Land Commission is not independent rather a member of the Commission. CHT

Accord says that land survey will be conducted after the completion of the rehabilitation programme and resolution of land disputes. He said that land problem in CHT should be resolved as per CHT Accord.

Dr. Aslam Alam, Director General of Land Records and Survey Department said that fund allocation should be made first and logistic supports should be provided for land survey in CHT. He added that if land survey were held that would take about 15 years and proper funding as well. So, that would not be possible at the moment.

Mr Dipankar Talukdar said that quoted the provision of the CHT Accord about the land survey and opined to have stern action against the Islamic fundamentalist terrorists in CHT. He reiterated to have implementation of the CHT Accord.

In fact, there was held discussion only and no specific decision was made in the meeting.

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: pcjss-cht.org