Tuesday, 22 Sep 2026
TRENDINGNEWS
Army Order Demolition of Jumma House in Bilaichari, Allegedly Plot Tourism Project by Evicting Jumma People PCP and HWF hold processions and rallies in Dhaka, CU, Bandaban and Rangamati on Education Day demanding quota reinstatement along with other demands Vehicles keep running despite strike of UPDF, threats to evict and shoot villagers A Marma teenager allegedly gang-raped in Ruma, the accused arrested PCP Kawkhali Conference Urges Students to Join Movement for CHT Accord Implementation Three high-level committees formed on CHT, questions raised Suspicious Death of Indigenous Santal Woman in Rupganj: Family Demands Investigation Infiltrated 9 Rohingyas detained in Longadu, who is bringing them? Army Order Demolition of Jumma House in Bilaichari, Allegedly Plot Tourism Project by Evicting Jumma People PCP and HWF hold processions and rallies in Dhaka, CU, Bandaban and Rangamati on Education Day demanding quota reinstatement along with other demands Vehicles keep running despite strike of UPDF, threats to evict and shoot villagers A Marma teenager allegedly gang-raped in Ruma, the accused arrested PCP Kawkhali Conference Urges Students to Join Movement for CHT Accord Implementation Three high-level committees formed on CHT, questions raised Suspicious Death of Indigenous Santal Woman in Rupganj: Family Demands Investigation Infiltrated 9 Rohingyas detained in Longadu, who is bringing them?
CHT Issues August 31, 2026

Reorganization and allocation of responsibilities in CHT Affairs Ministry tramples the core spirit of the Accord

Hill Voice, 30 August 2026, Special Correspondent: The government initially appointed Dipen Dewan, who was elected from the Hill Rangamati constituency, as a minister in accordance with the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Accord, but at the same time, it trampled on the CHT Accord by appointing Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, who was elected from Chittagong, outside the CHT, as a state minister. Within a few days, Dipen Dewan resigned from his ministerial post, which is widely alleged to have been a conspiracy by State Minister Helal Uddin.

On the other hand, the CHT Accord and its core spirit have been ignored in the recent allocation of responsibilities for oversight and coordination of overall government functions, including law and order, corruption and drug control, good governance, transparency and accountability, and public welfare and development activities, in the districts. It is worth noting that on 27 August 2026, the newly appointed CHT Affairs Minister Saching Prue Jerry was given the responsibility of Cox’s Bazar district, while the controversial State Minister Helal was given the responsibility of Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban districts, which has raised widespread questions in the public mind.

Section 19 of Part D (Gha) of the CHT Accord clearly states that ‘a ministry for the CHT shall be established by appointing a minister from among the tribals (Jumma).’ Not only that, to assist this ministry, there is a provision to form an advisory committee consisting of (1) Minister for CHT Affairs, (2) Chairman/Representative, CHT Regional Council, (3) Chairman/Representative, Rangamati Hill District Council, (4) Chairman/Representative, Khagrachari Hill District Council, (5) Chairman/Representative, Bandarban Hill District Council, (6) MP, Rangamati, (7) MP, Khagrachari, (8) MP, Bandarban, (9) Chakma Raja, (10) Bohmang Raja, (11) Mong Raja and (12) three non-tribal (Bengali) members who are permanent residents of the areas nominated by the government from the three hill districts. However, the government has trampled on the said provision of the Accord and appointed a Bengali person who is not a resident of CHT as the State Minister. On the other hand, there is no initiative or discussion in the government to form an advisory committee to the CHT Ministry, which is deeply related to the implementation process of the CHT Accord.

In addition, there is no information about any initiative or discussion by the government on the formation of important committees established under the CHT Accord, such as the CHT Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee, Task Force on the Rehabilitation of Jumma Refugee and Internally Displaced Persons, and the CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission.

In this situation, the government’s assignment of the responsibility of supervising and coordinating overall government activities, including law and order, corruption, development, etc. in Cox’s Bazar district, to the Minister for CHT Affairs, Saching Prue Jerry, and the responsibility of the three hill districts to the State Minister Mir Helal, can be considered as neglecting the CHT problems and ignoring and trampling on the CHT Accord.

It is worth noting that the CHT problem has long been a critical and national problem. In order to resolve this problem through political and peaceful means after a long period of mutual distrust and conflict, in 1997, the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) signed an agreement with the Bangladesh government on behalf of the residents of the CHT, including the Jumma people, which is widely known as the CHT Accord or Peace Accord. But in the past 29 years, the CHT problem has become fragile again as the Accord, including any core issues, has not been fully implemented. There are allegations of widespread cheating and pretext against the previous governments regarding the agreement.

As a result, many are of the opinion that it is necessary for the Minister of CHT Affairs to give maximum attention and importance to important issues such as the solution of the CHT problem and the proper implementation of the CHT Accord. In their opinion, the Minister of CHT Affairs should give special importance to the CHT problem and the implementation of the Agreement, not Cox’s Bazar, and take the initiative to urgently communicate and discuss with the CHT Regional Council. As the Minister of CHT Affairs, the duty of solving the overall problems of the CHT is the most important.