Indigenous people in three hill districts have formed a 300 kilometre-long human chain to demand that the Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord, signed 18 years ago, be implemented in full.
Spanning the distance from Panchari’s Dudukchara in Khagrachari to Naikhyangchari’s Ghundhum in Bandarban, the protest was organised by the Chittagong Hill Tracts Citizens Committee, the Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, Kapaeeng Foundation and the CHT Headmen’s Network on Monday morning including their several students wings.
Speakers said the government had failed to implement the fundamental aspects of the accord nearly two decades after the landmark deal was signed.
Bangladesh Adivasi Forum district unit President Prokriti Ranjan Chakma, Chittagong Hill Tracts Citizens Committee President Goutam Dewan and other leaders of the organisations addressed the human chain in Rangamati.
Meanwhile, several indigenous organisations and rights groups also formed human chain in front of the capital’s National Museum.
Dhaka University professor Mesbah Kamal, Oikya NAP President Pankaj Bhattacharya, Bangladesh Adivasi Forum General Secretary Sanjib Drong, Kapaeeng Foundation Executive Director Pallab Chakma were present at a human chain.
