Bangladesh has highlighted its progress in implementing the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord and promoting the development of ethnic communities at the 25th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York.
Speaking at the forum, Secretary of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Mohammad Mizanur Rahman said the Constitution of Bangladesh guarantees equal rights to all citizens regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender, or place of birth. He noted that of the 72 provisions of the CHT Peace Accord, 65 have been fully implemented, three partially implemented, and four are currently in progress.
He outlined various government initiatives aimed at ensuring security, maintaining environmental balance, resolving land disputes through surveys and management, and advancing overall development in the CHT region. He also mentioned the recent appointment of a special assistant on ethnic affairs with the rank of state minister to strengthen inclusive governance and participation.
The secretary further highlighted measures to expand education and healthcare services for ethnic communities, including scholarships, multilingual and e-learning systems, district hospitals, উপজেলা health complexes, community clinics, and mobile medical teams. He also noted a government plan to plant two million trees in the hill districts to address the impacts of climate change.
The forum, held from April 20 to May 1 at the UN Headquarters, is being attended by a Bangladesh delegation led by Secretary Mizanur Rahman. The delegation includes Chairman of the CHT Development Board Major General (retd) Anup Kumar Chakma, along with representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and various ethnic communities.
