Bangladesh recognises CHT as ‘foreign affairs issue'

Chakma body welcomes move, says it is a historic shift

New Delhi: Jan 15, 2025: The interim government of Bangladesh has recognised the  Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) region as a “foreign affairs issue”.

The government also notified reconstitution of the CHT Accord Implementation & Monitoring Committee with Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hussain as the Convenor and Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, President of the Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS) and Suddatta Chakmna, Chairman of the Task Force for Rehabilitation and Resettlement of the Returnee Refugees from India.

The Chakma Development Foundation of India (CDFI) on Wednesday welcomed this move.

In 1997, the Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord was signed between insurgent JSS and Bangladesh Army to bring peace to the region.

“This historic shift of the Government of Bangladesh to recognise the Chittagong Hill Tracts as a subject matter of foreign affairs is welcome. The Chittagong Hill Tracts despite having 98.5% non-Muslim populations was awarded to Pakistan in violations of the letter and spirit of the Indian Independence Act of 1947 under which two dominions for Muslims and non-Muslims were created out of British India. The indigenous people of the CHTs had raised Indian flags on 15th August 1947 before being illegally awarded to Pakistan on August 17, 1947,” said Suhas Chakma, founder of the CDFI.

The successive governments of Bangladesh have not taken any measures to implement the CHTs Accord of 1997. The military camps have not been withdrawn, the lands illegally occupied by the illegal plain settlers were not returned, refugees have not been properly rehabilitated and resettled, and no elections to the CHTs Regional Council and three Hill Districts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts has been held as on date, the CDFI said in a statement.