The road to peace in the CHT

The CHT Accord is one of the most praiseworthy undertakings of the Awami League and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government.

It was the AL-led government that signed the accord 19 years ago, with a vision to bring peace and stability to a region that had known nothing but strife.

The PM has reason to be extremely proud of this achievement, as the CHT Accord stands testament to the nation’s spirit of tolerance, diversity, and upholding human rights.

It is, then, very sad to see that almost two decades since its signing, the accord is at risk, as it has still not been properly implemented.

It is only through implementation of the CHT Accord that the many grievances of the region can be addressed and solved.

There have been far too many outbreaks of violence in the CHT, and far too much communal tension.

The PM, as an original signatory of the accord, understands and cares about the rights of all citizens who inhabit the Chittagong Hill Tracts, even if other governments in the interim may have ignored the area.

It is up to our government, now, to heed calls from local people of the CHT, support dialogue and action, and provide the proper resources and budgetary support needed to put the accord into action.

As such, it is hoped that this government will once again make it a priority to press ahead and overcome all the obstacles that have stood in the way of full implementation.

Let us not delay much further.