BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised a seminar titled “পার্বত্য চট্টগ্রামের ভূমি সমস্যা নিষ্পত্তিকরণে রাষ্ট্রীয় পদক্ষেপ ও বাধাসমূহ নিরূপণে করণীয়” on 10 April 2018 at BIISS auditorium. H. E. Mr. Anisul Huq, MP, Honourable Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, graced the seminar as the Chief Guest. Major General A K M Abdur Rahman, ndc, psc, Director General, BIISS, chaired the seminar and delivered concluding remarks.

Honourable Minister for Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs H. E. Mr. Anisul Huq, MP, noted that since the signing of the Peace Accord in 1997, the present government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working sincerely to implement all aspects of the peace accord. The chief guest mentioned that Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs was formed in 1998 and Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council was formed in 1999, among many other accomplishments. Additionally, ‘CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission Act 2001’ has been enacted and amended in 2016 by the present government, the minister mentioned. He hoped that all other aspects of CHT peace accord would be implemented in the shortest possible time.

Three designated discussants spoke on various issues related to the seminar topic. The discussants were Professor Dr. Syed Anwar Husain, Bangabandhu Chair Professor, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), Major General Md Jahangir Kabir Talukder, SUP, awc, psc, GOC, 24 Infantry Division and Md Kamal Uddin Talukder, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs.

Senior officials from different ministries of Bangladesh government, civil and military officials, representatives from different ethnic minority groups, inhabitants of CHT districts, members of non-governmental organisations, academia, relevant researchers, teachers and students from various universities and media personnel participated in the open discussion and expressed their valuable opinions, observations, and suggestions to resolve land related issues in the CHT.