The fifth anniversary of signing the Chittagong Hill Tracts Treaty (CHTT) was observed on December 2. But it bore all the marks of impending trouble in this region if the right steps are not taken by Bangladesh. All major parties of the region held separate rallies to advance their conflicting programmes. If this happens this region might once again plunge into crisis.

The signing of the CHT accord with the Shanti Bahini in December 1997 restored peace in the region. However, successive governments have not taken much interest to implement the essential features of the treaty. Significantly, the accord promised more autonomy by establishing a regional council. The Chakmas were also assured that their ancestral lands would be restored to them and the presence of the Bangladesh army would be reduced. However, these major outstanding issues have not been solved and the accord was opposed from the beginning by the Bengali settlers and a section of the Chakmas. The most prominent Chakma group opposing the accord – the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) – wants to continue the struggle for full autonomy of the CHT.

The right wing Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), then in opposition, also opposed the accord as discriminating against the interests of the migrant Bengali population. In its 2001election manifesto, the BNP had promised that it would review the terms of the accord if it comes to power. The party has a strong support base among fundamentalist Islamist forces and shares power with Jamaat-i-Islami, a radical Islamic group. The compulsions of running this coalition government do not allow it to implement the accord. The Bengali settlers have high hopes from this rightist government.

Unfortunately, successive governments have tried to mislead the Chakmas and did not make any effort to implement the accord. The Awami League (AL), which signed this accord, did not implement it fully. It is alleged by the Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS) leader Santu Larma that a section of the AL gave shelter to UPDF activists.

This has increased the frustration of the Chakmas. In November, during the seventh conference of the PCJSS in Khagrachari, a 33-point charter of demands was adopted. Shantu Larma, who is also the chairman of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Regional Council, called for continuing the struggle for upholding their separate Jhum identity. He criticized the BNP led coalition for 'politicising' the zila parishads in the CHT, which was impeding implementation of the accord. He also hinted at a conspiracy to 'Islamize' the CHT.

The magnitude of this problem became clear on the fifth anniversary, when all major parties held separate rallies to pursue their diffrent programmes. 

In the rally held by the PCJSS its leaders threatened to return to bush war for securing full implementation of the peace accord. Referring to a statement made by the BNP leader Salahuddin Qader Chowhury, they accused the leadership of seeking to turn CHT into a Muslim dominated region. Santu Larma wanted the government to finalise the list of Juma refugees and rehabilitate them; commence large-scale land survey at Rangamati, Khagrachari and Banderban to settle land conflicts between the hill people and settlers; waive loans of the Juma refugees; return such lands where no project had been commenced in the last ten years; and, preferential appointment of Juma people to government jobs in CHT. Santu Larma resented the presence of army camps and has no trust in the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs.

In its rally, the Parbattya Gano Parishad accused the PCJSS of killing 30,000 non-tribals in the Hill Tracts. It burnt the effigy of Santu Larma. Parishad leaders threatened to retaliate if the government failed to take action against tribal criminals for repression and killing of non-tribals. They demanded that the CHT Regional Council chairman Santu Larma be tried for the killings.

The Awami League has given a call to forge unity among the parties supporting the peace accord. It blamed the government for tardy implementation of the accord, leading to turmoil in the region.

The Pahari Chhatra Parishad and the Hill Women’s Federation observed the day of signing the CHTT as “Hatred Day.â€Â