Concern Over Resignation of Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs
Dipen Dewan. Photo: Collected.
The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Accord Implementation Movement has expressed deep concern over the recent resignation of State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, Dipen Dewan. In a joint statement sent to the media today, Saturday, two joint coordinators of the movement—human rights activist Zakir Hossain and Professor Khairul Islam Chowdhury—voiced their apprehension.
In the statement, they said that various discussions, opinions, and speculation are ongoing in different quarters regarding the resignation of the minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs. This incident has brought to the fore the existing uncertainty surrounding the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs and the implementation process of the CHT Accord.
They noted that even though the current government has crossed 100 days in office, it has been unable to present a concrete roadmap or visible progress on the implementation of the CHT Accord before the public. This has created uncertainty among the general population about establishing lasting peace in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
The statement added that the minister's resignation has further fueled doubt and concern among the nation about the accord implementation process. They also mentioned that the government has no room to avoid its institutional commitment to implementing the CHT Accord.
The statement demanded the reconstitution of the CHT Accord Implementation Monitoring Committee and the activation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Land Dispute Resolution Commission. Simultaneously, reiterating allegations of inconsistency with the CHT Accord, they renewed their demand for the removal of the deputy minister from the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs.
They urged the government to immediately announce a time-bound roadmap for implementing the CHT Accord. Furthermore, they called for initiating meaningful dialogue with the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) and the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council, key parties to the accord.
The statement further said that the Chittagong Hill Tracts issue is not merely a regional or administrative matter; it is an important national political question concerning Bangladesh's democracy and multi-ethnic reality. Therefore, an initiative should be taken to organize an all-party national dialogue to build a national consensus on this issue.
The joint coordinators expressed hope that the current government, through political wisdom, would be able to quickly demonstrate visible progress in implementing the CHT Accord.
Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Dipen Dewan resigned on June 1, citing physical illness.
