CHITTAGONG
HILL TRACTS
Geographical
Features:
The
Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) is situated in the south eastern corner
of Bangladesh bordering India to the north and Burma to the east.
Area: 8,149 km2.
Population:
The
total population of the CHT, in 1991 census, was 974,445 of which
51,43% were indigenous Jumma people and 48,57% were non-indigenous
Bengalis. At the time of the independence of India in 1947, only 9%
of the population of the CHT was non- indigenous.
Ethnic Diversity:
About
13
indigenous ethnic groups,
collectively known as the Jumma people, live in the CHT area. The
three largest groups are the Chakma, the Marma and the Tripura.
Economy:
Agriculture.
Brief History:
- 1971
CHT became part of Bangladesh after Bangladesh’s war of
independence from Pakistan.
- 1972 The sovereignty and rights of the
indigenous people were denied Bangladesh constitution. The
result was that a new national movement, Jana Sanghati Samiti (JSS),
was founded.
- 1973 The Shanti Bahini was formed, which
constituted the armed wing of the JSS.
- 1986 The Bangladesh army and Bengali
Muslim settlers went on a rampage of killing and destruction of
north-eastern CHT.
- 1989 The Bangladesh parliament passed
four laws to resolve the conflict. Thousands of refugees fled to
the state of Tripura, India, where six relief camps were
created.
- 1996 The Bangladesh Awami League
government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hassina assumed the power. A
National Committee was formed by the new government to resume
the negotiations.
Current situation:
The
situation of the Jumma peoples has not changed despite of the
change of the government in Bangladesh. The Jana Sanghati Samiti
maintained their cease-fire to encourage progress in the
negotiations. An international pressure will be needed to persuade
the Bangladesh government to meet the demands of the Jummas
regarding of withdrawal of troops and the departure of Bengali
settlers transferred by the government to lands belonging to the
Jumma people. The issue of genuine autonomy for the entire CHT
region is not yet resolved also. Both external and internal
dislocation of Jumma families, as a result of human rights
violations and evictions, have severally disrupted the entire
socio-economic life in the area.
UNPO documents concerning Chittagong Hill
Tracts.
- Bangkok
Declaration on Peace in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. February
1997.
- Concrete
Measures For Peace Put Forward For Chittagong Hill-Tracts. February
1997
CONTACTS
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The Netherlands
Telephone: +31-70-360 3318, Fax: +31-70-360 3346, EMAIL: Send
comments to UNPO
Source: Member of the Unrepresented Nations and
Peoples Organisation UNPO