Ensure peace in the CHT

It is disappointing that nearly three decades after the 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord was signed, the same unresolved issues continue to trouble the region. Speakers at a roundtable discussion held recently in Dhaka reiterated how far justice, dignity, and lasting peace continue to elude the Indigenous communities in the hills. Speakers discussed how the CHT crisis is not a local problem but a national one, which demands strong political will, institutional reform, and genuine engagement with all stakeholders.

Despite successive governments’ commitments, the CHT accord is still not fully implemented. This bears serious consequences. Land-grabbing, weak governance, ineffective local administration, and the erosion of trust in law enforcement and the justice system have created a climate where impunity thrives. Recurrence of violence in the region, including the recent incidents in Rangamati and Khagrachhari, continues to serve as grim reminders that unresolved political and historical grievances are placing Indigenous communities in harm’s way.

As experts stressed at the roundtable, lasting peace in the CHT is not possible unless Indigenous peoples are recognised as equal citizens whose identity and dignity are respected. Repeated failures to ensure justice in cases involving land-grabbing, attacks, violence against women, etc have further deepened feelings of insecurity among Indigenous communities. Governance gaps, including weak land and resource management, continue to worsen the situation. The Land Commission, in particular, cannot function effectively unless the Indigenous communities’ land rights are formally recognised. Experts also cautioned against seeing the CHT issue only as a security issue, saying that real progress requires engaging the security forces in a rights-based dialogue and changing the mindset that shapes policies in the region.

With the national election only weeks away, our political parties should commit to full implementation of the CHT Peace Accord. Whoever forms the next government should clearly outline their plans to implement it. Strengthening land governance, reforming local institutions, ensuring credible investigations into recent violence, and ending the culture of impunity should be a priority for the upcoming administration. Without ensuring these, sustainable peace in the CHT will remain a distant dream.