Participants in a workshop here yesterday stressed the need for full implementation of CHT peace accord to establish good governance in the country.
They said access of people to all government and non-government institutions must be ensured to restore accountability and transparency in those organisations.
A misconception among the Bangla-speaking people about CHT Regional Council still remains that the institution works only for welfare of the indigenous people. It must be removed through neutral activities of the council, the participants said.
CHT Regional Council (CHTRC) organised the workshop on preparing 'Citizen Charter' for CHTRC in the conference room of Rangamati Hill District Council.
Public representatives, civil society leaders, government officials, NGO representatives, journalists and women leaders attended the workshop.
Speaking at the workshop, CHT Regional Council Chairman Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma alleged undemocratic attitude of the government is an impediment to full execution of the peace accord.
He said the people in CHT are still being deprived of all government facilities due to politicisation of local government institutions.
He urged the civil society leaders, politicians, Journalists, public representatives, NGO representatives and women leaders to help make the local institutions effective.
Robert Stoleman, chief of implementation of CHTDF-UNDP, stressed the need for strengthening local government institutions.
Dr Manik Lal Dewan, former chairman of Rangamati Hill District Council, CHTRC member Gautam Kumar Chakma, Ushatan Talukder, president of Adivasi Forum, CHT chapter, mayor of Khagrachhari Municiaplaity Md. Rafiqul Alam, councillor Roksana Akhter, among others, spoke at the workshop.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Land Dispute Resolution Commission Justice Khademul Islam Chowdhury said establishing peace in CHT will be complicated due to delay in resolving land disputes of the region.
Replying to a query about the commission's activities at the commission's Khagrachhari office, he said the indigenous people are not attending the scheduled meetings and helping the commission in resolving land disputes.
Land Commission Secretary Abdul Hamid, Registrar Mohammad Hanif were present.
Source : The Daily Star
