As we made the Chattogram Hill Tracts Peace Accord, we will fully implement it, whether today or tomorrow. We must not be disappointed. Everyone must unite and if the government does not implement the accord, we must force the government to implement it through a collective mass movement.
Ushatan Talukder, vice-president of the central committee of the Parbatya Chattogram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS) and former member of the National Parliament, said this while speaking as the chief guest at a mass rally organised at the gymnasium ground in Rangamatitown on Tuesday marking the 28th anniversary of the Chattogram Hill Tracts Accrord.
He said, the hill Jumma people are citizens of this country, they are not foreigners. Therefore, the rights of the hill people here mean human rights, who have their own language, culture and tradition.
Addressing the opponents of the accord, those who want to cancel the it, Ushatan said, "What do they understand by canceling the Hill Accord? Canceling the accord means going back to 1997. Are you telling us to go back there? If not, then let's have a peaceful discussion. I have no objection. But if we go back to 1997, no one will be good in the hills," Ushatan Talukdar warned.
Many people are seen blaming the PCJSS for the terrorist activities and illegal weapons in the hilly region, saying that they have left behind good weapons and bullets. But we can say with confidence that we have not left behind a single bullet or a single weapon.
Ushatan said that the government is responsible for the illegal weapons and terrorist activities in the hilly region.
Ushatan Talukdar also said that when the agreement opponents were depositing their weapons at the Khagrachari Stadium on February 10, 1998, they were waving black flags and chanting slogans that they will not accept this agreement, will not accept it, this agreement is a black agreement. Many high-ranking government officials were present at that time. However, he alleged that the government later sheltered those who opposed the accord.
He said that if there are fair, beautiful and acceptable elections in the future, the Jana Sanghati Samiti will participate in those elections.
He called on the government to fully implement the Hill Accord for the benefit of all communities in the hilly region.
Gangamanik Chakma, the president of the PCJSS district committee, presided over the public meeting organized by the Rangamati district committee of the PCJSS. MN Larma Memorial Foundation president Bijoy Ketan Chakma, educationist Shishir Chakma, CHT Headman Network vice-president Advocate Bhabatosh Dewan, Hill Women's Federation president Moni Chakma, PCJSS district committee organizing secretary Sunirmal Dewan and Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP) central committee president Romain Chakma also spoke at the meeting.
Hundreds of men and women from various upazilas, unions and remote areas of the district joined the mass gathering with banners and processions.
On the other hand, a discussion meeting was organized at the premises of the regional council office on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Agreement at the initiative of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council. The meeting, chaired by the Chief Executive Officer of the regional council, Suborna Chakma, was addressed, among others, by the President of the Bangladesh Indigenous Forum, Hill Tracts Region, Prakriti Ranjan Chakma, members of the regional council, Advocate Chanchu Chakma and Phadangtang Chakma, human rights activists Nirupa Dewan, Donipru Marma Neli, members of the regional council, Nurul Alam, Krinchachandra Chakma, Vice President of the CHT Headman Network, Thoai Aung Marma, Abbas Uddin Chowdhury, Tanoy Dewan, journalists Shantimoy Chakma, Saikat Ranjan Chowdhury, Himel Chakma.
The speakers at the meeting said that there is no alternative to the complete implementation of the Hill Accord in the interests of all communities living in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and to establish permanent peace. Therefore, all the hill people and Bengalis were called upon to work together against all conspiracies in this regard.
