Divide and rule policy prevails in CHT

CHT DESK:

Divide and rule policy is going on in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), said speakers at a meeting on Thursday.

The speakers made the remarks at a commemorative meeting marking the 39th death anniversary of Manabendra Narayan Larma at the faculty of fine arts of the University of Dhaka where Mesbah Kamal chaired.

Throughout his life, MN Larma worked to uphold equal rights and dignity for all people, irrespective of religion, caste, and gender, they said.

Manabendra Narayan Larma, popularly known as MN Larma, was a leader of Jumma people and the founder of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS).

“MN Larma’s state, democratic and national ideas are enough to understand him. The Paharis have become minority in the hills. The divide-and-rule policy initiated by the ruling groups to control hill politics has backed to them as boomerang. The hill problem has to be solved politically”, said Rashed Khan Menon, president of Workers Party of Bangladesh.

“Larma’s role in the newly formed parliament was commendable. He was vocal about rights of people from all socio-economic orientations”, he said.

“Many lawmakers did not raise their voice in the parliament for the rights of the economically marginalised people. But MN Larma was vocal about the rights of every citizen”, said  DU professor Shourav Sikder.

 “MN Larma was always ready to fight for people’s rights. He made many aware of their rights and inspired them to take a stand to protect their rights”, said Bangladesh Adivasi Chhatra Sangram Parishad president Alik Mree.

“‘MN Larma was the first to realise that Bangladesh does not belong to the Bengali people only, it belonged to all ethnic communities. He made us realise that Bangladesh was a pluralist country”, said Bangladesh Hindu Buddha Christian Oikya Parishad presidium member Kajal Debnath.

“Today is a dark chapter for Jumma nation. PCJSS always advocated self-determination, not separatism”, said vice president of PCJSS and former lawmaker MP Ushatan Talukdar.

“Divide and rule policy prevails in CHT. As a result various armed groups emerged in hills. The government is directly or indirectly supporting those groups who are trying to pose a threat to national security”, said Ushatan.

The speakers demanded full implementation of CHT Peace accord.

Bangladesh Adibashi Forum’s assistant joint secretary Gajendra Nath Mahato, Bangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president Sharif Nurul Ambia, Communist Party of Bangladesh general secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince, journalist Sohrab Hassan, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad joint general secretary Masuda Rehana Begum and Socialist Party of Bangladesh general secretary Bazlur Rashid Firoz,spoke among others.

Bangladeshi Indigenous Peoples Forum, Kapaeeng Foundation, Bangladeshi Indigenous Women’s Network, Association for Land Reform and Development, Bangladesh Garo Students Organisation, Bangladesh Hajong Students Organisation, Bangladesh Indigenous Cultural Forum, Bangladesh Indigenous Youth Forum, Dhaka University Jumma Literature and Cultural Society, among other organisations, paid tribute to MN Larma.

MN Larma, also the elder brother of present PCJSS President Santu Larma, was assassinated on November 10 in 1983.