ZCZC
BSS-10
PM-CHT-VILLAGE CENTRES 2 DHAKA
Regarding the dispute over land issue, the prime minister said that the
government has formed the Land Commission and if the commission could sit
regularly the problem will be solved.
Recalling the signing of the landmark Peace Accord that ended two-decade
insurgency problem in the CHT region, she said that lion share of the deal
has already been implemented and the rest of the part will be executed
surely.
“We’ve signed the peace accord and we’re implementing it … we’ve
withdrawn 250 army camps from the region,” she said.
The prime minister said there was no border outpost of the BGB in the
area. “But we’ve set up such BOPs in the area … we’re working to improve
the living standard of every person of the region,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said her government merged those, who surrendered arms, to
the police and Ansar and VDP and has arranged their training. “We have also
made arrangements for “atap” rice in their training by relaxing the policy,”
she said.
Elaborating the background of the peace accord, the prime minister said
the government of any country always tries to solve any problem, but no
strides were made by the post-1975 government to solve the insurgency problem
in the CHT region.
“Our government solved the problem at the fastest possible time as it was
able to diagnose the disease in this regard,” she said.
In this connection, the premier said many countries signed the peace
treaty, but surrender of arms was not made in any country. “This historic
peace accord was signed without involvement of any third party and it was an
exceptional event in the world history,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said 1800 rebels surrendered their arms to her on February
10 in 1998 at Khagrachhari Stadium. “The insurgents did it as they had trust
and confidence in me,” she said.
Remembering the surrender of arms by the rebels, the prime minister said
she assured them going near to them, saying that there will be no problem as
she remains with them. “I still remember the smiles that I saw on their face
after my assurance,” she said.
Elaborating her government’s initiatives for the development of the CHT
region, the prime minister said 29/30 subjects/departments have been
transferred to Hill District Councils of Rangamati, Khagrachhari and
Bandarban.
“We’ve increased the allowance of the King, headmen and karbaris,” she
said.
Sheikh Hasina said that the government wants to develop the whole country
in a balanced way as the government gives importance to upliftment of the
socioeconomic status of the country.
MORE/SH/GMR/1524 hrs