The government has declined to pass an amendment to the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Land Dispute Resolution, which would have facilitated the return of illegally leased and occupied land to displaced hill tracts people.
This is concerning because it reverses the campaign pledge made by the ruling party made during the 2008 elections and risks jeopardising the fragile peace process.
Returning land to rightful owners is a crucial element of the CHT Accord, a fact that has been emphasised both by leaders of the ethnic communities and the Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission (CHTC).
Last month the co-chairs of the CHTC sent a letter to the government urging them to pass the bill in the ninth parliamentary session, as previously promised. Unfortunately, their pleas seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
The government’s inaction in this regard not only demonstrates a lack of commitment to the peace process, but also encourages more land grabbing, which is reportedly continuing in the CHT right now with full impunity.
The lack of political will to implement the peace process is not only damaging to the hill tracts people and settlers alike, it is also harmful to the country which has to bear the financial burden of maintaining security forces in the region. It also deprives us of revenue from tourism and other economic activities in one of the most naturally rich regions of the country.
Such lack of pro-active implementation of the treaty only benefits land grabbers.