Dg. Molin Kumar Chakma takes oath as CEM of Chakma ADC

Kamalanagar, 4 January 2025: Dg. Molin Kumar Chakma was sworn in today as the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the 11th Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) in a ceremony held at Kamalanagar. Pu Zoramsiama Hmar, MCS, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Lawngtlai, administered the oath of office and secrecy to him.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Dg. Rasik Mohan Chakma, MLA, 36-Tuichawng Constituency; Puhpa K. Hrahmo, MLA, 40-Palak Constituency; Puhpa M. Laikaw, Chief Executive Member, MADC; Puhpa N. Viakhu, Chairman, MADC; Dg. Mohan Chakma, Chairman, CADC; Shri Devesh Kumar, Prabhari of Mizoram BJP; MDCs, and other senior officials of CADC.

In his maiden speech as the CEM, Dg. Molin Kumar Chakma described the event as an auspicious beginning of a new Executive Committee under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in CADC. He called upon all political parties, NGOs, and intellectuals of the area to lend their support to his Executive Committee for the smooth running and progress of administration.

He announced the names of Dg. Kalasoga Chakma, Dg. Supan Chakma, Dg. Montu Chakma, Dg. Amit Bayan Chakma, and Dg. Ananta Bikash Chakma as members in his Executive Committee. He stated further that the allocation of other portfolios in the Executive Committee would be announced in due course. In conclusion, he expressed optimism that with the support of Shri Devesh Kumar, BJP Prabhari, Mizoram, and Dg. Nirupam Chakma, Member, NCST, CADC would receive assistance from the central government for its development.

Dg. Molin Kumar Chakma’s appointment as CEM followed a political reshuffle necessitated by a no-confidence motion against the former CEM, Dg. Rasik Mohan Chakma, during the first sitting of the Winter Session on 11th December 2024, which led to the dissolution of the Executive Committee. Subsequently, on 28th January, 2025, the Hon’ble Governor of Mizoram appointed Dg. Molin Kumar Chakma as the Chief Executive Member of CADC.

Dg. Molin Kumar Chakma was elected as an MDC from the 4-Bajeisora Constituency during the 2023 CADC general elections on a BJP ticket. He later joined the Mizo National Front (MNF). In the previous Executive Committee, he held the posts of Adviser to CEM and subsequently, the post of Vice-Chairman of Planning & Development Board, CADC. Prior to his entry in politics, he was actively engaged in social work, through his involvement in Guwahati Chakma Students’ Union (GCSU) and the Central Young Chakma Association (CYCA).

Centre may take up bill to amend Article 280; empowering ADCs

The move is likely to see devolution of taxes to a third tier of government - autonomous councils for tribals, which operate under the sixth schedule of the Constitution.

New Delhi: The Union government is expected to take up The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2019, that seeks to include autonomous councils in the ambit of the Finance Commission, which divides taxes between the Centre and states, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told HT on Tuesday.

A standing committee of Parliament had already looked into the Bill, the BJP leader said. Following this a federal panel under the home ministry was also formed to look into the matter.

The move is likely to see devolution of taxes to a third tier of government — autonomous councils for tribals, which operate under the sixth schedule of the Constitution.

“This proposal is there. In our context, we fully support the demand of the autonomous Councils for devolution of taxes. Discussion on The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Amendment) Bill by the standing committee is already over. The government of India is in the process of bringing the amendment. We are hopeful we’ll see something positive in the coming Budget session of Parliament,” the chief minister said.

Sarma is slated to campaign for his party in the ensuing Delhi polls on Wednesday.

The bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha by the Union government in 2019. It amends provisions related to the Finance Commission and the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

The Bodoland Territorial Council, an autonomous authority in Assam’s Bodo tribal areas, has demanded inclusion of these self-governing council in tribal areas in Article 280 of the Constitution, which governs the Finance Commissions.

The Bodoland Territorial council is an autonomous administrative authority in Assam’s Bodo tribal areas comprising five districts.

The council this month saw the completion of five years of the 2020 Bodo peace accord signed between the Centre, the Bodos and the Assam government to devolve more powers, financial and administrative, to tribal authorities under the federal structure of the Constitution.

Before the accord, the Bodo areas had seen a long period of insurgency and instability. Peace has returned to the region after the 2020 agreement.

Currently, there are 10 Autonomous District Councils in the north-eastern states of India. These are:

Assam: Bodoland Territorial Council, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and Dima Hasao Autonomous District Council.

Meghalaya: Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council and Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council.

Tripura: Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council.

Mizoram: Chakma Autonomous District Council, Lai Autonomous District Council and Mara Autonomous District Council.

The Constitution, through Article 280 to 281, provides for finance commissions, set up every five years to arrive at a mechanism for division of taxes and revenues vertically i.e. between the Centre and states, and horizontally, i.e. among all states, based on their levels of development, prosperity and regional needs.

All previous Finance Commissions have incrementally increased states’ share in the pool of taxes. The 14th Finance Commission recommended a quantum leap, increasing states’ share by 10 percentage points to 42%. One of the preceding 15th Finance Commission’s mandate was to review the 14th Finance Commission’s recommendations. In the interim report for 2020-21, states’ share was cut to 41% because of the creation of new Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Situation in Bangladesh's CHT extremely dire and alarming: Santu Larma

Rangamati, 26 January 2025: Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, popularly known as Santu Larma, Chairman of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Regional Council and President of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS), stated that the situation in the CHT is deeply abnormal and alarming. He warned that the 14 indigenous communities of the region are on the verge of extinction. The Jumma people of the CHT are living with a sense of insecurity and an uncertain future.

On Saturday (January 25), Santu Larma made these remarks as the chief guest at a seminar and discussion meeting in Rangamati, addressing the overall situation of the indigenous communities in the CHT and the role of society. The event was organized by the CHT Chapter of the Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum at the Ashika Hall Room in Rangamati’s New Market area.

Santu Larma highlighted an incident involving graffiti, describing it as an unwanted occurrence that showcased the marginalization of Bangladesh’s 51 indigenous ethnic groups. The graffiti initially included the words Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, and Indigenous Peoples, but the section mentioning “Indigenous” was torn off, symbolizing exclusion.

He further added, “Extremists do not want to recognise that Bangladesh is a pluralistic country. The 14 indigenous communities in the CHT are not only marginalized but are losing their very existence. The ruling class disrespects indigenous communities by labeling them as ‘tribals’ or ‘small ethnic groups’ instead of recognizing their names, such as Chakma, Marma, Khiyang, or Tripura. These terms carry a sense of insult and neglect.”

He also pointed out that the ruling class fears the word “indigenous.” If the Bangladesh government acknowledges the term as per United Nations recommendations, it would have to ratify international treaty that uphold indigenous rights. He explained that indigenous peoples are defined by their distinct characteristics, which are widely recognized and documented.

The seminar was chaired by Prakriti Ranjan Chakma, President of the CHT chapter of Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum. Other speakers included KS Mong Marma, a member of the Regional Council; Aungcha Mong Marma, Organizational Secretary of the Hill Tracts Indigenous Forum; Madhu Mongol Chakma, Deputy Organizational Secretary; writer Shishir Chakma; Thowaiaung Marma, President of the CHT Headman Network; Lelung Khumi, Secretary for Student and Youth Affairs of the Hill Tracts Indigenous Forum; lawyer Dinonath Tanchangya; cultural personality Manoj Bahadur Gurkha; and Forum members Namita Chakma and General Secretary Intumoni Talukder.

The speakers criticized the ruling Awami League government for failing to implement the CHT peace accord during its 15 years of power. Instead, the government has harassed the PCJSS with false cases, they alleged.

Bangladesh: CHT Accord Implementation Committee reconstituted

File photo of the signing of Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord of 1997.

Dhaka, 20 January, 2025: The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee has been reconstituted in accordance with Section 3 of Part ‘A’ of the CHT Accord signed in 1997. This committee has been reconstituted through a gazette notification signed by Mohammad Nahid Islam, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of CHT Affairs, on 12 January 2025.

Md. Touhid Hossain, the foreign affairs advisor of the Interim Government, has been appointed as the convener of the committee. The other two ex-officio members of the three-member Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee are Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, president of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS), and Sudatta Chakma, chairman of the Task Force on the Rehabilitation of India-returnee Tribal Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons.

It is to be noted that the scope of work of the CHT Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee are– To monitor and supervise the implementation process of the CHT Accord; To coordinate the activities of all ministries and departments including all subordinate government, semi-government, autonomous organizations and authorities related to the implementation process of this Accord, and to provide necessary advice/instructions; To take necessary measures to resolve problems related to the implementation of this Accord and to provide recommendations to the government if necessary; To supervise activities related to the repatriation and rehabilitation of refugees; To supervise activities related to the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons.

This gazette notification states that all ministries/departments will comply with the decisions and instructions of the Accord Implementation Committee and will take necessary measures accordingly.

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.