The government has taken many development projects for welfare of the people in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).
“The Prime Minister has instructed us to take up more and more projects in hilly areas for public welfare. So, we are taking more projects,” Planning Minister MA Mannan said.
Bengali newspaper Bhorer Kagoj organised the programme in association with the Institute of Conflict, Law and Development Studies (ICLDS).
The minister further said the issue of harmony, prosperity and development in CHT is quite complex.
“However, I can say that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been making every effort for the development of the region.”
Referring to the peace agreement, Mannan said the role of the premier became clear after the signing of the peace accord.
“Expenditure on the development of the CHT is much more than other parts of the country’s per capita. The government is determined to continue this trend of development in the future,” he said.
Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Minister Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing was present as special guest at the programme.
“Chittagong Hill Tracts will not be the burden of the country rather the area will be turned into a peaceful and prosperous one. Everyone must work together to achieve the goal.”
He said after the independence of the country, Bangabandhu visited the Chittagong Hill Tracts and took initiative to bring the backward people forward.
As part of it, he formed the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board. The peace deal was signed as part of the government's efforts to make the region an important consideration for the country, he said.
Prof Abdul Mannan, vice-chairman of ICLDS and former chairman of University Grants Commission, and Nikhil Kumar Chakma, Chairman of Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board, were keynote speakers.
Aroma Dutta, MP for reserved women’s seat, Naba Bikram Kishore Tripura, former chairman of Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board, Muhammad Zamir, ICLDS chairman, Maj Gen (Rtd) Md Abdur Rashid, Executive Director of ICLDS, Maj Gen (Rtd) M Ashab Uddin, former Ambassador, Farha Mahmud Trina, Vice chairman of investment (standing committee) of e-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (e-CAB),Mahfuz Parvez, Professor of Political Science Department at University of Chittagong, among others, spoke on the occasion.
