Regular activities at Khagrachhari Hill District Council is being hampered since it is running without an elected body.
Frustration amongst the hilly people has deepened as they have not witnessed any major development in the district over the last 15 years for lack of an elected executive body.
According to section 4 of Khagrachhari Parbattya Zilla Parishad Ain-1989, the district council should run with 34 members led by a tribal chairman.
Other 33 members includes 21 tribal members, nine non-tribal (Bengali) members, two tribal women and one non-tribal member.
According to section 16 (Ka) of the same act, if election commission fails to hold an election during the stipulated time, the government would form an interim council comprising four selected members and one selected tribal chairman.
But defying the law, the district council is now running its activities with acting chairman Chai Tow Aung Marma and two other members, Biro Kishor Chakma Atal and Mohammad Shahabuddin.
General Secretary of Bangladesh Human Right Foundation, Khagrachhari district unit Abu Bakar Siddique said the activities of the district council are being greatly hampered due to manpower shortage, preventing any substantial development activities within the region.
President of Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik, Khagrachhari district unit Dr Sudin Kumar Chakma said for the overall socio-economic development of the area Khagrachari Local Government Council was established by the then government on March 6, 1989. Then, a 34-member elected body started their job on July 10, 1989 and continued till July 5, 1997.
Pointing to a different crisis, the then government had formed first interim council following section 16 (Ka) and appointed one chairman and four members on July 7 that continued till October 10, 1998. But the practice of interim council is still going on, depriving hill people’s development aspirations, Dr Sudin added.
The government should hold elections, aiming to form a full elected body for smooth activities of the council, he said.
Former KHDC Chairman Monindra Lal Tripura said after signing the peace accord, the government had taken various steps for strengthening the Hill District Council and as a part of the development of disadvantaged hill people, the government had handed over some 22 government departments to the district council.
“A three-man KHDC body cannot monitor 22 government departments. I am urging the government to go for election and ensure elected representatives for KHDC that view development activities of the locals as their main focus.
Acting KHDC Chairman Chai Tow Aung Marma also acknowledged that activities of the organisation were going at snail’s pace for lack of required members.
The newly elected government must reform the KHDC, either by an elected body or by an interim body aiming to expedite the development process, he added.
