On 2nd December, 2023, Bangladesh celebrated the 26th anniversary of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) treaty, which concluded the armed conflict in the region and marked the beginning of a new chapter in Bangladeshs history. The treaty was signed between the Parbatya Chattogram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS) and the then-Awami League government. As 26 years have been passed, PCJSS claimed a total of only 25 clauses out of 72 have been fully implemented, while the other 47 have been partially implemented. But, as per the governments assertion 65 clauses have been fulfilled, but the PCJSS denies this. Nevertheless, implementing the 1997 CHT Accord is essential to establishing peace in the CHT, improving human rights, self-determined development, land dispute resolution, demilitarization, rehabilitation of those affected. However, the rise of rebel groups in CHT is impeding this regions development.
Activists advocating for ethnic minorities claimed that the failure to remove army camps and Bengali settlers are the main causes behind the emergence of insurgent groups and the disruption of peace in the region. This peace talks called for the evacuation of some 500 temporary army camps. Unfortunately, government withdraws 240 camps, however, put a stop to the progress.
It may be shocking that, at least four regional political parties in CHT have armed wings, and many do not subscribe to the Peace Accord. Thus, many insurgents have not yet relinquished their arms, even though this was an obligation of the pact. They have no ideological differences, yet they fight for self-interest rather than establishing minority rights.
It is evident that, several ethnic terrorist groups are allegedly holding hundreds of thousands of people as captives, according to locals. Terrorism, extortion, kidnapping for ransom, assaults, and counterattacks are just a few of the ways these groups exert power and influence in their respective regions. These terrorist groups take approximately 1000 crore taka as extortion money per year from a variety of sources. Since the peace pact, intergroup conflicts have killed over 1,100 people in CHT. Shockingly, a total of 35 security personnel were killed between 1999 and October 2023, despite the agreement according to different sources.
Again, JSS (main), UPDF and KNA have been involved in a number of criminal operations, including assaults and hijackings of tourist vehicles, in an effort to impede the growth of the regions tourism business, deter potential visitors and hampering development projects. According to locals, armed groups demand a certain amount of money from all market sellers.
Considering the current state of affairs in the region, one would legitimately be pondering why the government would dare to jeopardize the security of the CHT people by dismantling the remaining army camps as per as the CHT accords.
The Kuki-Chin National Army (KNA) has recently come to the forefront of public attention when they claimed the responsibility for 21 deathsin the CHT in June 2022. Two Army service members were killed reportedly on June 1 and 17, when an IED planted by the KNA exploded in Ruma, Bandarban. Moreover, KNA members opened fire on a patrol unit on March 12 in the Rowangchhari upazila of Bandarban, killing a senior army warrant officer. Approximately, five-armed force individuals lost their live for atrocities carried out by KNA separatists. They are responsible death of eight individuals in Bandarban due to inter-group gunfight in the April, 2023. Furthermore, during road repairs in the LongthasiJhiri area of Ruma on March 15, KNA members kidnapped nine people, including a retired sergeant.
KNA emerged as a new regional security threat as well other separatist groups. The KNA has been quietly organizing for several years. As a result of intimidation and threats by the KNA there have been reports of at least 294 displaced Bawm people. After the Bangladesh Army conducted a much-needed strike against Islamist militants and their alleged local collaborators in CHT, however, KNAs notoriety began to creep to the surface. According to the RAB, KNA has trained at least 38 people who fled from various regions to become Islamist militants at one of their several training camps.
Obviously, the current armed groups are blatantly breaking the peace accord signed in 1997, causing political turmoil and hindering development in the CHT. Their vindictive nationalism has abruptly destroyed regional peace and security and constitutes a violation of the Peace Treaty Act of 1997. The implementation of the peace agreement is being challenged. Thats why reginal development is not progressing as it was expected.
It may evident that, separatist groups calls for self-determination and independence often spark clashes among more powerful ethnic communities in CHT region and the government. When these disputes break over into explicit violence, innocent people are being killed, whole communities are potentially uprooted, and vital infrastructure is being destroyed. Such disputes may put a strain on interethnic relations, foment societal disagreements.
The existing separatist groups are exiting the tri-national border between Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar. As a result, separatist conflicts may spread across continents, capitalize on neighboring governments, and exacerbate regional security concerns and tensions could grow between these countries due to the widespread desire for regional autonomy or independence. Border conflicts, infiltration of armed groups, and skirmishes with security services may put diplomatic tensions and regional instability at risk and threaten to destabilize both countries.
Moreover, theres a speculation that the separatist rebels exploit the unprotected borders between Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar to conduct their smuggling endeavors. Cross-border smuggling of products, including unlawful substances such as narcotics and weapons, represents a component of these activities. As a result, the CHT has turned into a major entry point for lethal substances, including marijuana, yaba pills, and ice, flowing into Bangladesh from neighboring countries. The unlawful smuggling affords them financial resources that enable them to maintain rebel operations.
Against this backdrop, individuals, including academics, bureaucrats, and former military officers, have suggested to tighten security in CHT region in order to greater interest for Bangladesh as well as expanding the authority of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs due to the difficulties associated with property ownership and the need to acknowledge the national identity these minority groups. Again, they suggested that, there need to be fully implementation of CHT accord as soon as possible.
At this point, we must illustrate about the development scenario of CHT region. According to the Bangladesh government, 40 projects have been carried in 2023, another 1,555 more have been approved for the growth and development in this region. The Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) has been constructing roads, bridges, culverts, buildings and refurbishments under governments development plans. Over the last three years, government has carried out over 250 educational facilities in this region, with the aim of spreading education light. Again, tourism has increased with infrastructure projects connecting remote areas to the main areas and law enforcement agencies guaranteeing security from fragile terrain along distant borders made CHT people more secure, sufficient and reliable. A 1,000-kilometre road is being built in CHT to safeguard inhabitants from border crimes and speed up commutes to schools, health centers, and marketplaces.
Its no secret that CHT is a strategically significant region for Bangladesh. Sharing borders with two countries, which have a highly political-shifting relationship with Bangladesh, is unpredictable. So, Bangladesh must have to deploy security forces for establishing insurgency movements, regional peace and strengthening border security as well as its national security.
Undoubtedly, Bangladesh must make additional endeavors to fully execute the CHT accord. But the accord will not be completely executed overnight, especially considering the challenges faced by the Bangladeshi government in terms of offering food to the entire population. Hope, these circumstances may ultimately become improved. Yet again, Bangladesh government is truly compelled to guarantee security and maintain a balance of development initiatives between those on the plainland and the ethnic minority. In light of this, a comprehensive social strategy is required. Rather, it is highly dubious that the government will be able to handle these challenges alone.
The writer is a freelance contributor
