CHITTAGONG HILL TRACTS PEACE ACCORD OF 1997: CHALLENGES AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

The Government of Bangladesh and the Parbattya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) finished a long-standing armed conflict between the Bangladesh Army and the tribal people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts in the south-eastern region of Bangladesh through signing a historical treaty named The Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord on December 2, 1997. The treaty promised to bring solidity in the region. But 20 years into the signing of the Accord, it cannot achieve its goal. The region is still the most unsound region of the country and bitterness among the tribal people is increasing day by day due to delay in the full implementation of the Accord. The frequent clashes between the tribal and the ‘Bengali Settlers’ stance serious threat to the security of the country. In this perspective, the government of Bangladesh should take immediate and meaningful steps toward full implementation for the Accord. More-ever, most regretful matter is that there are so many contradictory provisions in the accord which should be amended for the adjustment and upholding of our sovereignty. The objective is to find out the contradictory provisions with the constitution for adjustment and effective implementation of the peace accord.