Chattogram and the hills of the Chittagong Hill Tracts are
not merely geographical territories. They are an integral part of the lifeblood
of our national life. This region is home to important water sources, an
abundant reservoir of biodiversity, a natural shield against climate
vulnerability and a key source of livelihood for many people. Yet for several
decades, we have treated the hills not as a gift of nature but merely as an
area for resource extraction. The inevitable consequences are now...