The government has reconstituted the National Committee on Chittagong Hill Tracts to set priorities on key issues concerning the region, oversee the implementation of various activities and coordinate security and law-and-order matters.
The prime minister has been appointed chairperson of the 19-member committee, according to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Thursday.
The committee includes nine ministers and advisers, along with the Cabinet secretary, principal secretary to the prime minister, members of parliament elected from the three Hill Tracts districts, the principal coordinator for SDG affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office, and the director generals of National Security Intelligence (NSI) and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI).
The chief coordinator of the Armed Forces Division under the Ministry of Defence has been appointed chief coordinator of the committee, while the DG of DGFI will serve as the member-secretary.
The committee will set priorities on important issues concerning the Chittagong Hill Tracts and oversee the expenditure and implementation of related activities.
It will also determine the scope of work and operational areas of security forces, law enforcement agencies and other relevant bodies deployed in the region.
Formulating a national strategy for the overall development of the Chittagong Hill Tracts and taking necessary steps to implement it will also be among the committee’s key responsibilities.
According to the notification, the committee may invite relevant officials from any ministry, security force or law enforcement agency to its meetings when necessary.
The Armed Forces Division of the Prime Minister’s Office will perform the institutional and administrative functions of the committee, including secretariat duties.
Md Humayun Kabir, additional secretary of the Cabinet Division, signed the notification by order of the president.
