'Launch drive to recover arms from indigenous youths in CHT'

They said the Bangalee settlers are becoming the victims of kidnapping and ransom by armed indigenous youths.

Sama Odhikar Andolon, a platform of Bangalee settlers in three hill districts, organised the roundtable at the National Press Club to discuss their problems.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

" I will request the government to launch an army or joint forces drive in the CHT to seize illegal arms from tribal youths," said Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan, a lawmaker of Khagrachhari, while speaking as chief guest at the roundtable.

Bhuiyan, also the chairman of the CHT Development Board, said number of illegal arms has been increasing alarmingly in the area.

Terming the CHT accord as a 'black deal', he demanded equal facilities for both the Bangalee settlers and indigenous people as they are living under same condition.

The speakers said the cancellation of the treaty was an election-pledge of the ruling alliance government led by BNP.

But the government is now assuring the indigenous people that they would implement it, the speakers added.

BNP leader Moshiul Alam Humayun from Rangamati, Abu Yusuf Chowdhury from Khagrachhari and Ruhul Amin, chairman of Kaokhali Pourosova also spoke on the occasion.

Representatives of Bangalee settlers from different parts of three hill districts including Monirul Haq Chowdhury, a lawmaker from Comilla, were present at the roundtable.