Speakers at a book launching event on Monday called for collective efforts from local communities, government and the international partners to ensure a lasting peace in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), stressing that it is crucial not just for Bangladesh but for the security of the entire region.

They acknowledged that peace has not been achieved yet even after 27 years of the signing of the CHT Accord and called for addressing the challenges through collective efforts.

The unveiling ceremony of the book titled "Regional Security and CHT Peace Accord 1997: An Unfinished Peace Building Model of Bangladesh" written by Brig Gen (retd) Md Nasimul Gani, was held at Foreign Service Academy.

Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain spoke as the chief guest while Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant on Defense & National Integration Development Lt Gen (Retd) Abdul Hafiz as a special guest.

Writer and public intellectual Prof Salimullah Khan also spoke, among others, at the launching ceremony.

Adviser Hossain stressed the need for developing the basic respect and understanding to prevent small issues from snowballing into major conflicts and establish peace in the CHT.

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“If we can establish basic respect and understanding there, I think, small issues will not be there in the major conflicts,” he said.

Focusing on taking the right steps to get back peace in this land, the Adviser said they have to respect distinct groups also with distinct cultures, equal rights and equal respect.

Hossain, however, thought that the solution (to mistrust) is not easy particularly after so many years of living side by side with suspicion. “We lived side by side with suspicion for a long period. Initially it was not there but it grew overnight,” he said.

He put emphasis on taking the right steps to establish peace in this land. “We need to respect their cultures. It’s a diversity we have. We have to accept that (this diversity),” he added.

“I think we need to develop a culture in which we respect each other; we take care of each other,” he said, adding that the governing authorities must ensure it.

Abdul Hafiz said peace and stability have broader implications for regional security because of its proximity to the neighboring countries.

Whatever happens in the CHT has an implication on the same communities who are living across the border (in India and Myanmar), he said, adding that this security and stability in the CHT has a wider implication for the security and stability in the region.

Noting that peace has not yet achieved, Abdul Hafiz said people’s participation and consultation must go side by side and they are committed to continue to play an active role in support of the peace process while ensuring security in the CHT.

He said they encourage further discussions among government agencies, security forces and civilian society to address the changes identified in the book and promote a sustainable peace in the region.

Writer of the book Nasimul Gani served in the CHT both before and after the signing of the Peace Accord and analysed both the strong and weak points of the accord.

Hafiz said the book has been published at a time when the interim government is facing security challenges in maintaining communal and social harmony among the people living in the three hill districts.

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He highlighted that the CHT has a political dimension because people want to have a political identity.

Hafiz said it has an economic dimension and also an ethno-religious dimension while there has been insurgency and counter-insurgency and it has a deep rooted issue on land ownership.

“It was assumed that the CHT Accord signed in 1997 would bring durable and long term peace in the CHT. Unfortunately after 27 years of the signing of the accord, peace has not been established. We do not see stability. We do not see security in the CHT.”

Hafiz laid emphasis on a comprehensive approach beyond military presence to achieve lasting peace and highlighted the needs for demilitarisation.

Prof Salimullah Khan said lack of willingness is the main reason for not implementing the CHT Peace Accord for the last 27 years.

“This peace accord has not been implemented for 27 years. The main reason is that we did not want to implement it. If we want to implement it, we have to hear carefully what the people want. And I think that it is possible to implement the accord,” said Prof Khan.