Parbattya Bangali Chhatra Parishad plans to enforce a daylong road and river blockade in the Chittagong Hill Tracts tomorrow, protesting a cabinet decision on CHT affairs Land Commission.
PBCP announced their programme at a press conference held at Khagrachhari Press Club yesterday morning. Engineer Abdul Mazid read a statement at the press conference.
He said the decision of amending six sections of CHT affairs Land Commission would go against the interest of Bengali people.
A cabinet meeting presided over Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday approved a draft of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Land Dispute Resolution Commission (amendment) Act 2013 to curb the authority of the commission’s chairman.
The meeting also decided to remove the provision of preparing a guideline within six months of the law’s passage, since authorities failed to prepare the guideline to implement the law enacted in 2001.
“The act will be suicidal for Bengali people living in CHT if the amendment of CHT affairs land commission is passed in the parliament’s upcoming session,” he said. “I am urging the prime minister to pass the bill after consulting with Bengali leaders,” Mazid said, adding that they would undertake tough movement if government amends the act as per the wish of tribal leaders.
Mazid blamed CHT affairs Secretary Nabo Bikrom Kishor Tripura for the controversial decisions with regard to CHT and demanded his immediate removal from the ministry.
PBCP district unit member Shahajul Islam Sajal, Mohammad Masum, Juwel Rana and Lokhman Hossain were present at the press conference.
According to the draft of the amended law, ethnic minorities will be prioritised when the commission’s secretary or officials are picked.
The current commission was formed in 2009, and initiated a land survey to resolve on-going land disputes.
But the commission chairman placed emphasis on a cadastral survey of the hill districts, ignoring traditional land rights in the area - a move widely criticised and opposed by indigenous community leaders and organisations, the Rajas of the three circles and the Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity - who demanded the survey should come after amendments to related laws.
