UPDF, an organisation that once believed in autonomy for Chittagong Hill Tracts, is now participating in the elections in the absence of main opposition BNP.
“We know elections are not the answer to the problems of hill tracts,” Michael Chakma, UPDF leader and the general secretary of its youth front Democratic Youth Front said.
“This election in the context of Bangladesh is farcical,” he said. “But still we are running for the elections,” he said without elaborating further.
United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) split from Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti, led by Santu Larma, after the peace accord in 1997.
They slammed Santu Larma for reaching a consensus with the then Awami League government and continued struggle for autonomous hill tracts.
Now, UPDF placed independent candidates for each of the three hill tracts region – Khagrachhari, Rangamati and Bandarban – when BNP is not around.
UPDF chief Prashit Khisha has nominated himself from Khagrachhari, Sachib Chakma from Rangamati and Choton Tonchongya from Bandarban.
In a press conference on January 2, Prashit Khisha voiced for autonomous hill tracts but did not specify how the cause will be served by joining polls.
In the course of elections, a central leader, Mithun Chakma, called out to the BNP not to create hindrance in polls in a Facebook post on January 1.
“If BNP does not block a free and fair polls here, it means support for an autonomous hill tracts. It will hopefully shrink the communal image of BNP.”
However, in the same Facebook status, he said that the January 5 polls would be acceptable only in participation of all parties.
When contacted, he remained ambiguous about serving the goal of autonomy through participation in the 10th parliamentary elections.
