The communications ministry is going to undertake the maintenance of 22 roads under the districts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) that were once entrusted to the CHT affairs ministry.
According to the CHT Treaty of 1997, the road-maintenance task was the Chittagong Hill Tracts affairs ministry's undertaking.
The decision came at an inter-ministerial meeting held Monday among the communications ministry, three hill district councils and CHT affairs ministry.
Following the meeting, Communications Minister Obaidul Quader told reporters his ministry had decided to take up the road-repair tasks in the CHT districts.
The CHT affairs ministry has failed to continue its repair to those dilapidated roads since it has much want of manpower and required fund.
The minister said most of the roads in Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari districts were run-down.
“We have taken up road-repair task considering public interest,” said Obaidul.
The roads will be returned to the CHT ministry again after their repairs, he said.
The minister also urged the leaders of the CHT regional council and three district councils in the hill area to cooperate with the ministry in this regard.
The communications ministry will send letters to the finance ministry to provide fund for the repairs.
State Minister for CHT affairs ministry Dipankar Talukdar and chairmen of three hill district councils were also present at the meeting.
