2024-04-21 15:39:17
Bangladesh highlighted the progress achieved in the implementation of the Mountain Peace Agreement in the 23rd session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples at the United Nations Headquarters.
New York local time Friday (April 19) at the United Nations Headquarters Secretary of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts. Moshiur Rahman highlighted this progress.
According to the Permanent Mission, the representative of Bangladesh detailed the implementation of the historic ‘Mountain Peace Agreement’ at the United Nations and the development of small ethnic groups, ethnic groups and communities and the preservation and development of unique regional culture and heritage.
Secretary of Chittagong Hill Tracts said that the Constitution of Bangladesh has given equal rights to the people of the country regardless of religion, caste, caste, gender or place of birth. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the signing of the historic Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Agreement in 1997 ended decades of conflict in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and made it possible for the people of the small ethnic groups living in the Chittagong Hill Tracts to be included in the mainstream of the country’s development.
Regarding the implementation of the agreement, he said, the process of implementing its clauses through an inclusive and participatory process is ongoing. Out of a total of 72 sections, 65 have already been fully implemented, 3 have been partially implemented and 4 are under implementation.
Apart from this, the secretary informed the forum about various measures taken by the government to ensure security in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, protect environmental balance, digital land survey and management initiatives to settle land disputes, and overall development of the region.
In the three Chittagong Hill Tracts districts, three traditional circle chiefs enjoy various administrative and legal powers and the Chairman of each Hill District Council and two-thirds of the members are elected from the minority ethnic groups, the Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Secretary said.
He also said that the government has continued to invest in various development activities in consultation with the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council. Several UN agencies and international development partners are implementing various development projects in the region.
The secretary pointed out that since the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Agreement, there has been an extraordinary change in the overall development of the region.
The secretary of Chittagong Hill Tracts said that the government has established specialized cultural institutions to protect and promote the culture, language and traditions of small ethnic groups by enacting laws. Free textbooks in their respective languages are being regularly distributed to children of five ethnic minorities. A quota of 5 percent is reserved for class III and IV government jobs and admission to government educational institutions. At present, there are four members of the National Assembly and one member of the Cabinet from minority ethnic groups.
The 23rd session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples is being held for two weeks from 15 to 26 April 2024 at the United Nations Headquarters. In this meeting, Secretary of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs. Bangladesh delegation led by Moshiur Rahman is participating.
Secretary of the Ministry of Land in the delegation. Khalilur Rahman and Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board Chairman Supradeep Chakma along with representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of External Affairs and Permanent Mission.
It should be noted that the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples under the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations deals with various issues of indigenous peoples worldwide.