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Conflict in Chittagong Hill Tract (CHT) : Problems and Solution
Conflict in Chittagong Hill Tract (CHT) : Problems and Solution
On
Conflict in Chittagong Hill Tract (CHT): Problems and Solution
Submitted To:
Dr. Zahidul arefin Chowdhury
Assistant Professor & Chairman
Dept. Of Peace and Conflict Studies
University of Dhaka.
Submitted By:
Md. Kabir Hossain
Roll No: 398
4th Batch, MSS; 2nd Semester
Dept. Of Peace and Conflict Studies
University of Dhaka
Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 4
About Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) ......................................................................................... 4
History of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT)................................................................................... 4
Conflict in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) .................................................................................. 5
Undeclared War in the CHT ...................................................................................................... 6
Jana Samhati Samiti ................................................................................................................... 6
Shanti Bahini .............................................................................................................................. 7
Leading factors of the conflict ................................................................................................... 7
Abolition of Chittagong Hill Tracts act 1900......................................................................... 7
Kaptai hydro-electric project .................................................................................................. 7
Nationalism ............................................................................................................................ 7
Migration of Bengali .............................................................................................................. 7
Dispossession of Jumma land ................................................................................................ 8
Settling Bengali for safety of the state ................................................................................... 8
Human Rights Violation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) .............................................. 8
Restrictions on Movement, Buying and Selling..................................................................... 8
Role of the Foreign Powers in CHT .......................................................................................... 9
Peace Initiatives by the Government of Bangladesh ................................................................. 9
The Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord of 1997: ................................................................. 10
Consequences of the accord: .................................................................................................... 11
Achievement of CHT Peace Accord: ....................................................................................... 11
Weakness of Peace Treaty ....................................................................................................... 12
Reforms for Sustainable Peace in CHT ................................................................................... 12
Quotas and Scholarship ........................................................................................................ 12
Refugee Return ..................................................................................................................... 12
Demilitarization.................................................................................................................... 12
Reforms for Sustainable Peace in CHT................................................................................ 12
Implementation of Peace Treaty .......................................................................................... 13
Managing the Land Issue ..................................................................................................... 13
Activating the Land Commission ......................................................................................... 13
Rehabilitating the Deprived Ones ........................................................................................ 13
Equitable Distribution of Privileges ..................................................................................... 13
Upholding Lingo-Cultural Uniqueness ................................................................................ 13
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Introduction
The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) is a region of Bangladesh which is situated at the south
eastern part of the state. This is a hill region where indigenous or tribal people are living who
are known as ethnic group of Bangladesh. Without tribal there are living many Bengali
people. The ongoing conflict is happening between indigenous or tribal people and
Bangladesh Government forces and Bengali settlers. This conflict started after participation
of Indian Subcontinent and enlarged after independence of Bangladesh. Still now this conflict
is ongoing but at present it is underway or short from early time. To solve this conflict many
initiatives have been taken by the Government of Bangladesh, Peace Accord is one of them.
But the problem is here that peace initiatives and peace accord are unimplemented, thats
why the conflict is unresolved. There are many causes which are responsible for this conflict
and necessary initiatives to resolute the conflict are mentioned below.
In 1947, Indian subcontinent was partitioned on the basis of religion, Pakistan for Muslims
and secular India for non Muslims and Muslims alike. Despite 98.5% of the population of the
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CHT were Jummas and thus non Muslims, the Pakistani leadership conspired and the
Boundary Commission of Great Britain ceded the CHT to East Pakistan now Bangladesh in
violation of the principles of partition and against the wishes of the Jumma people. The
Jummas vehemently protested against the decision, but they rejected.
From the very beginning the Pakistani Government looked at the Jummas with an eye of
suspicion for being anti Pakistani during the partition. Jummas were discriminated in jobs,
business and education. During the Pakistani rule, the Government of Pakistan amended the
1900 Act several times against the wishes of the Jumma people in order to find a legal excuse
for migration of non indigenous people into the CHT. It deliberately ignored the fact that the
1900 Act was an indispensable legal instrument for ensuring the safeguard of the Jummas,
and that it could not be amended without mutual agreement. On contrary, Pakistani
Government interpreted the 1900 Act as a legacy of British colonial administration which
helped separating the CHT from the rest of the country. The predicament of the Jumma
people began with the building of a hydroelectric dam in the early sixties which flooded
1,036 Square Kilometers of land submerged 40% of the best arable land and displaced
100,000 Jummas from their ancestral homes. (Syed Anwar, 1999)
After independence of Bangladesh M.N. Larma submitted a written memorandum with four
point charter of demands to the government of Bangladesh consisting of 1) Autonomy for the
CHT, 2) Retention of the CHT Regulation 1900, 3) Recognition of the three kings of the
Jummas, 4) Ban on the influx of the non Jummas into the CHT. But the government of
Bangladesh rejected the demand, which quickly lead to insurgency. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
declared that we are Bengali than M. N. Larma said that we are Bangladeshi not Bengali and
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman also urged them to become Bengalis and forget their tribal identities.
The failure of the state to recognize the identity of hill people and their political and
economic marginalization led Larma to form the Parbatty Chattagram Jana Samhiti Samiti
(PCJSS) in March 1972. Subsequently, a military wing called Shanti Bahini was added to it.
deprived and armed conflict began. From the very beginning of insurgency different
government initiated different pacification measure and political negotiation with tribal
leaders. After a long journey & pairs taking effort finally Bangladesh government signed the
peace treaty with the tribal people of CHT represented by parbatta Chattragram Jano Sanghati
Samity (PCJSS) or in short JSS on 2nd December 1997. More than fourteen years passed
after this landmark peace accord has been signed but permanent peace is not established in
CHT as yet. One of the hill people small organizations, United Peoples Democratic Front
(UPDF), still continuing with arms struggle. The deployed Army could not be withdrawn
fully. The tribal-Bengali mistrust and non cooperation still remain very high. (Khan Adilur,
2006)
Shanti Bahini
Soon after the formation of JSS in 1972 an armed wing Shanti Bahini was launched. It was
originally formed to defend the villages against the Bangladeshi terror, rapings, torture and
exploitation. Most of the members of the Shanti Bahini come from Chakma, Tripura and
Marma, the three largest ethnic groups in the CHT. These groups have been affected most by
the Bangladeshi invasion of the CHT. Apart from ambushing army patrols, the Shanti Bahini
attacked Bangladeshi settlers and Bangladesh security forces camps and stations.
actively to encourage settlers to move there. During 1980 some 25,000 Bangladeshi families
were settled in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). ( Amena M, 2002)
Dispossession of Jumma land
The Bangladeshi settlers have been able to take over land and even whole villages. There is a
severe population pressure on land in Bangladesh generally and Jumma land had been
regarded as readily available. One excuse often given for allowing or encouraging this
migration is the relatively low population density in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). The
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) had noted that the
Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) are relatively crowded than the plains of Bangladesh. There
were various ways in which the Jumma people have been, and still are being dispossessed of
their lands. Violence, intimidation and arson are the main methods used by the both the
Bangladesh Army and the Bangladesh settlers to force the hill people to leave their villages.
Entire villages have been forced to flee from their lands. (Zainal, 2003)
Settling Bengali for safety of the state
The Pakistan government instituted a settlement plan in the Feni valley bordering India
because it distrusted the Jumma people living there. Bangladeshi governments have similarly
used poor Bangladeshis against the Jumma people as cannon fodder. There seems to be a
determination to destroy Jumma society and if necessary the Jumma people. Illiterate
Bangladeshi peasants, who, under this scheme move to the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT),
know nothing of the Jumma situation. All they know is that the government has given them
land and is prepared to assist or at least to turn blind eye to encroachment on Jumma land.
Human Rights Violation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT)
There have been massive and systematic human rights violations in the Chittagong Hill
Tracts (CHT), committed by the Bangladeshi security forces and the Bangladeshi settlers.
The Jumma people have been murdered, crippled, raped, tortured, imprisoned and deprived
of their homes and means of livelihood. They have been denied civil and political rights.
Restrictions on Movement, Buying and Selling
The Bangladesh military divides the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) into three different zones;
red, yellow and white. The red zones are the interior of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT); the
white zones are the areas within two miles of the regional military headquarters where the
army is in full control, while the yellow zones are the Bangladeshi settler areas. In the red
zones the most restrictions are imposed on the Jumma people but not on the Bangladeshis.
All the Jumma people have to carry an identity card and if they go shopping they have to
carry market pass. Limited quantities of rice, kerosene, oil and other goods which they are
allowed to buy. A family cannot buy more than four kilos of rice per person each week. This
is checked at all the military posts along the road. (Adnan, Shapan, 2004.)
Response of the Hussain Muhammad Ershad Government are tax relief for small and cottage
industries, reduction of power and gas rates, reduction of interest on bank loans to 5%.
Ershad declared general amnesty for Shanti Bahini on 3 October in 1983. So, many Shanti
Bahini soldiers back their homes and expand his normal life.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Government headed by Khaleda Zia as Prime
Minister took power in March 1991. This government took some peace initiatives, such as the
first major specific step by this government was the declaration of a general amnesty for the
insurgents. The Parliamentary Committee headed by Ret. Col. Oli Ahamed for conducting
negotiations with the Parbatty Chattagram Jana Samhiti Samiti (PCJSS) held seven dialogues,
Rehabilitation of tribal families and returnees from India. (Adnan, Shapan, 2004.)
The Awami League Government came back in power in June 1996 then the overall scenario
in CHT got positive change. Sheikh Hasina promised to form a parliamentary committee to
resolve the crisis politically during her election campaign in the Chittagong Hill Tracts
(CHT) in 1996. It also seemed that the people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) had great
expectations from the Awami League government. For these reasons she took some
initiatives those are given below:
The Peace Accord was signed between Parbatty Chattagram Jana Samhiti Samiti
(PCJSS) and government on 2 December 1997.
To establish Parbato Jila Parishod.
In 2009 government removed some military camps from CHT region to bring long
term stable peace in that region.
Formation of CHT regional council. (Zainal, 2003)
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resolve land disputes, and cancel illegal leases to non-Paharis and non- residents. (Zainal,
2003)
Consequences of the accord
After the treaty was signed, Shanti Bahini insurgents formally laid down their arms and
received monetary compensation from the government and more than 50,000 displaced
people were able to return to their homes. The PCJSS emerged as a mainstream political
party. The peace treaty was opposed by the BNP, which alleged that the demands of the
Bengali settlers were not accommodated in the agreement. However, the BNP promised to
implement the accord after its election victory in 2001. The PCJSS has continued to agitate
for the full and proper implementation of the peace accord and has alleged lack of
government action and intimidation from security forces. The PCJSS has protested the rise of
Islamism and Islamic terrorism in the region from groups based in Bangladesh and
neighboring Burma. (Adnan, Shapan, 2004.)
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Administrative Reform
A sound and effective administration is critical to strategy implementation as it pertains to
better articulation of priorities, creation of enabling environmental for public and private
action, optimum use of resource and distribution of benefits.
Political Development
National and regional political parties need come to a consensus that we want a peaceful
CHT. Then the parties need to seat together to find out modalities, how to address the
conflicting needs of different segment of people. With political will of the regional leaders
the security of CHT can be achieved easily.
Socio-Economical Development
The economic survival and improvement of the hill peoples will require significant
diversification of the CHT economy, going beyond traditional activities in forestry and
agriculture. Specially, it will entail expansion of the industrial, trading and service selectors
of the economy. Mohsin, Amena, 2002
Other recommendations are.
Development of a fair and impartial judicial system, human rights education
programs, human rights training for police and the judiciary.
Rehabilitation of all returned refugees, settlement of land confiscated from the
tribal. People and withdrawal of non-permanent army camps, have to be fully
implemented.
Promotion of primary education.
Low-cost housing project,
Free medical service centre.
Take steps to settle all internally displaced persons, tribals, or settlers.
Sinking of deep tube-well and ring-well in the refugee villages
Water-sealed sanitary latrine.
Establishment of fruit wood processing factory
Forestation
Free Medical Service Centre
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Conclusion
Its a basic human desire to live in peace but after four decades of the independent of
Bangladesh CHT dispute are not solved. I think all the political parties should think together
to establish long lasting peace in CHT. We should also build a friendly cultural relation with
the hilly people for the better understanding of society. Bangladesh is a poor country and
indigenous people are the poorest among the poor. It cannot be denied that they face
discrimination in education, employment and civil rights. The diversity of our culture due to
the presence of indigenous communities is providing extra vigor to the national fabric of
Bangladesh. Moreover, indigenous people are the original inhabitants of our country. So, they
have the same right we have over Bangladesh. Finally we all should work joint handedly to
achieve the ultimate goal of peace in CHT. For the total Development of the country, CHT
need to be peaceful and developed.
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References
1. Adnan, Shapan, 2004. Migration, Land Alienation and Ethnic Conflict: Causes of
poverty in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. P-93
2. Abedin, Mohammad Zainal, 2003. The Chittagong Hill Tracts-A Victim of Indian
Intervention, Easter Pub Ltd, London.
3. Barua, B.P, 2001, Ethnicity and National Integration in Bangladesh: A Study of the
Chittagong Hill Tracts.
4. Chakma,S.S, 1995; Ethnic cleansing in Chittagong hill tracts.p.38
5. Hussain, Syed Anwar, 1999, War and Peace in the Chittagong Hill Tracts: Retrospect
and Prospect, Agamee Prokashani, Dhaka
6. Mohsin, Amena, 2002. The Politics of Nationalism: The Case of Chittagong Hill
Tracts Bangladesh, UPL, Dhaka.
7. M. Aminuzzaman, Salahuddin, Kabir, AH. Monzurul .Role of Parliament in Conflict
Resolution: A Critical Review of the Chittagong Hill Tract Peace Accord in
Bangladesh.
8. Rahman, M. Ashiqur, 2004; Chittagong Hill Tracts accord in Bangladesh:
Reconciling the issues of humanrights, Indegenous Rights and Environmental
Governance.
9. Rahman, Khan Adilur, 2006, Crisis in the Chittagong Hill Tracts Bangladesh.
10. Report of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Commissions Mission in Bangladesh February
16-22, 2009.
11. Shelley, M. Rahman, 1992. The Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh: The Untold
Story, Dhaka: CDRB
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