Let all be true to truce in Khagrachhari

The administration held 12 meetings since November 1 involving leaders of Awami League, BNP factions, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Jatiya Party (Ershad) and other smaller parties. The caretaker government took over on October 28.

The first meeting, presided over by Additional Deputy Commissioner Shamsuddoha, was attended by immediate past party BNP lawmaker Wadud Bhuiyan. He is in Dhaka since then, party men said. It was held at the ADC's office.

After accusations and counter-accusations, leaders of the parties at the last meeting held on Monday resolved that all political activists irrespective of parties will live in their houses peacefully. Belonging to a certain party is a right that should not affect or sour their relations, no one will harass any body else and all will avoid accusation and confrontation in political activity, sources in the parties and the district administration told this correspondent.

Monday's meeting was attended by among others, district BNP organising secretary Mostafizur Rahman Millat, press secretary Nazrul Islam and party's Sadar upazila secretary MN Afsar, district Jubo Dal president Abdus salam and secretary Syedul Islam Babul, district Awami League joint secretary SM Safi, Chhatra League president Mong Shu Pru Chowdhury Opu secretary Didarul Alam, Jubo League convener Partha Tripura Jewel, Liberal Democratic Party convener Abul Kashem and joint convener Rafiqul Islam.

As per a decision of the meeting, 'peace committee' is being formed in each village to maintain harmony among activists of all parties. Such committees have been formed at some villages, the sources said yesterday.

The meetings also resolved that officials will review 'false cases' filed by rival political activists in last five years.

"Observing the (confrontational) situation, the administration and police officials took an initiative to broker peace among parties," Assistant Police Superintendent Mohammad Tareq said yesterday.

In last five years, at least 5,000 Awami Leauge leaders and activists and several hundred 'dissident' BNP men were driven out by musclemen, district Awami League secretary SM Safi told this correspondent.

"No one having difference of opinion could stay at home in Khagrachhari during the tenure of 4-party alliance government" he alleged.

At least 13 political activists including Sadar upazila AL leader Nurul Islam alias PC Nuru, Matiranga AL leaders Mohammad Kamal Hossen and Mohammad Yasin, Matiranga Jubo Leauge leaders Mohammad Ibrahim and Amir Hossain, Sechchasebak Leauge leader Helal Uddin, Rahim, Mujib, Ramgarh upazila Sechchasebak Leauge leader Nurul Alam, Jubo Leauge leader Mohammad Yasin, Chhatra League leaders Mongri Marma and Firoz Ahamad were killed during the alliance government but none of the accused have been arrested yet, he said.

At least 300 leaders and activists of different political parties were injured and 200 houses and business establishments damaged in clashes between parties in last few months in different areas of the district, the sources said.

Khagrachhari LDP convener Mohammad Abul Kashem said at least 3,770 cases were lodged against about 5,000 leaders and activists of Awami League, Jatiya party and BNP with nine police stations in the district only to harass them and their families. Some journalists also faced false cases, he claimed.

"Now we are happy as the administration took a nice initiative to protect us and our property", Kashem said.

Mostafizur Rahman Millat, joint secretary of district BNP, however said, "No honest politicians was driven out. Criminals driven out from the district by people and BNP had no link with those incidents".

"We want to do politics in a democratic way, not by driving out others from the district like Awami League", he said.

Jatiya Party (Ershad) central leader Mohammad Shahaz Uddin said, "It is a good to see that politicians are staying at homes with families which was impossible during BNP-Jamaat government".