Implement provisions of CHT peace accord urgently
They said the communal attitude of the government is keeping alive the problem which cannot be solved militarily.
The roundtable was organised by the Weekly 2000 at the National Press Club in the city to mark the eighth anniversary of CHT Peace Accord signed on December 2, 1997.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Eminent economist Prof Muzaffer Ahmed moderated the roundtable where Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Shantu Larma, chairman of regional hill council and president of Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) spoke as chief guest.
Moni Swapan Dewan, deputy minister of CHT affairs ministry and Syed Fahim Munaim, managing editor of The Daily Star, were present as special guests.
Golam Murtaza, executive editor of the Weekly 2000, presented a keynote paper titled 'Eight years of peace accord: present perspective.'
In his keynote paper, Murtaza said in real sense the hill people did not get anything after the peace accord.
The government must implement the accord immediately if it does not want them to take up arms again, he added.
Golam Murtaza said the government is in fact supporting them who oppose the treaty.
Santu Larma said the government must fulfill all the commitments made to indigenous people, otherwise disaster will again prevail in the CHT.
"When we were fighting we had at lest a dream, but now we do not have anything except deprivation," he said.
Moni Swapan said the CHT region could be turned into a potential resource of the country by resolving the CHT problem as a national issue.
"It is the duty of the majority to protect the ethnic minority," he added.
Criticising the role of media on the CHT issue, Fahim Munaim said the media should play a better role in this regard.
He said the CHT problem is like a time bomb which should be addressed immediately.
Otherwise, the issue could create new problems for the country, he added.
Prof Muzaffer Ahmed said the problem should be resolved in a democratic way through mutual respect and confidence.
Prof Abul Kalam Azad, former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, said all political parties should work together to solve the problem.
Prof Serajul Islam Chowdhury said the CHT is an example of discrimination and inequality prevailing in our society.
He suggested launching of a political movement to remove it.
Rashed Khan Menon, president of the Workers' Party, was critical of 'indirect military rule' in the CHT region.
Mujahidul Islam Selim, secretary general of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, said the CHT problem is not solved as the vested quarters are making huge money by depriving the local people.
Hasanul Haq Inu, president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, said instead of implementing the CHT peace accord the government is violating it.
"The government is supporting the separatist groups from the neighbouring countries but it is not fulfilling the rights of ethnic communities in our own country," he said.
Brigadier General (Retd) Sakhawat Hossain, said the presence of army in the CHT region is needed as 130 separatist groups from India and Myanmar are active in CHT region.
To tackle them the presence of army is indispensable, he added.
Pankaj Bhattacharya, a Gono Forum leader, said the government is helping those who torture the indigenous people.
Prof Mesbah Kamal of Dhaka University said the government is changing the demographic scenario of CHT region by rehabilitating the members of the Muslim community there.
Rupayan Dewan, vice-president of the PCJSS, said in the name of Operation Uttaran, the army has been torturing the hill people.
"Basically they are staying there to wipe out the Jumma people and helping the Muslim settlers, " he alleged.
Saifuddin Ahmed Manik, a Gono Forum leader, Prof Dalem Chandra Barman, a teacher of Dhaka University, Sanaullah Lavlu, news editor of the daily Prothom Alo, and Biplob Rahman, deputy chief reporter of Bdnews, also spoke at the roundtable.