Dhaka, Sept 15: Bangladesh government has said it was contemplating amending the landmark Chittagong Hill Tract Accord, which facilitated the return of Chakma refugees who The government is reviewing the Chittagong Hill Tract Accord to ascertain whether it contained anything contrary to the Constitution, M K Anwar, minister in charge of CHT affairs, told Bangladesh's national Parliament yesterday.
"We will go for an amendment if necessary after reviewing the accord," Anwar, was quoted as saying by media. The ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party had opposed the 1997 accord, signed between the then Sheikh Hasina government and the indigenous people, alleging it was a "sell-out" to the Indian government.
"It is true that we spoke against the peace accord signed by the previous Awami League government. But, it is not judicious to cancel the accord without scrutinising it," Anwar said in reply to a question by a lawmaker on whether BNP would nullify the accord as it had opposed its signing when it was in the opposition. The minister also said the rights to property were not violated by the CHT Accord.
The statement comes amidst reports of clashes between the tribals and "Bangalee settlers" in the south eastern Chittagong hill tracts with tribal leaders alleging that the government was dallying with the implementation of the accord.
Nearly 80 houses belonging to the tribals, who had returned to their homeland, were burnt late last month at Mahalchari in Khagrachari district. Bureau Report