27th anniversary of CHT Peace Accord today, President, CA issue messages

The nation is set to celebrate the 27th anniversary of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord today.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus issued separate messages marking the completion of 27 years of the signing of the historic agreement.

Both the President and the Chief Adviser greeted all people in the Chattogram hill districts on the occasion of completion of 27 years of the covenant.

In his message, the President extended his heartfelt greetings and congratulations to all the residents of the three hill districts.

The hill districts of Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachari are a region rich in natural resources and have immense potentials for development, he said.

The colorful lifestyle, language, agriculture and culture of the various communities living in these three hill districts for ages have made this region particularly distinctive, the president mentioned.

A historic agreement was signed on December 2, 1997 between the National Committee for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs and the Chittagong Hill Tracts Jana Sanghati Somity (PCJSS) with the aim of utilizing the development potential of the Chittagong Hill Tracts region and for the socio-economic development of the area.

The Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs and the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council were formed for the development of this region.

In continuation of the implementation of the agreement, the socio-economic, infrastructural and cultural development of the CHT region is ongoing, he urged everyone, regardless of party affiliation, to work together to continue the trend of progress in the hill districts.

He said the hill regions of Bangladesh are an immense source of natural beauty. The residents of the hill regions played a spontaneous role in all the crises and transitions of the nation, including our language movement, freedom movement, the Great War of Liberation, the democratic movement-struggle and the anti-discrimination student movement.

Noting that the interim government has adopted a multi-faceted reform plan to build a discrimination-free, corruption-free, justice-based and modern Bangladesh, the President said its successful implementation will play a role in establishing a hill region free from discrimination and communalism.

The development activities of the hill districts will be more sustainable and accelerated, and the hill regions will move forward in development and progress, he hoped.

In another message, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus also extended my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all the people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts region of the country.

On this day in 1997, the agreement was signed between the Government of Bangladesh and the Parbatya Chattogram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS). It was a political agreement also known as the Peace Accord.

As the people of the hilly region live in this one-tenth area of the country’s total area, he said there the development of Bangladesh is not possible without bypassing the hilly region.

The chief adviser said various reforms have been taken by involving the local people in conserving the natural beauty of the hilly districts and expanding the tourism industry.

“This will reduce unemployment, accelerate economic development, and improve living standards and eliminate social inequality,” he added.

The President said the collective efforts of all are mandatory to continue the journey of peace, harmony, development and progress in the lives of all residents of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Noting that the interim government formed through the mass uprising of students, worker, the CA said the people is committed to building a new Bangladesh free from discrimination by keeping the bond of communal harmony intact.

The chief adviser wished all success of the ‘Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord Day-2024’.