The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord was signed two decades ago, but peace still remains elusive  due to criminal activities like killing and extortion while the emergence of new armed group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) providing training to a militant group has become a major concern.

Communities living in the region have been trying to rebuild their lives leaving behind all the despair, but fears and conflicts put them back. Violence unleashed by armed groups kills people and destroys the prospect of peace.

Even tourism in Bandarban remains banned as part of high security measures preventing militant activities.

Bangladesh is marking the 25th anniversary of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord on Friday (December 2).

Read more: 25th anniversary of CHT Peace Treaty on Friday

Militant training at CHT with emergence of KNF

On October 20, members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested seven members of newly launched militant outfit Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya and three members of the armed separatist group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) conducting drives at Bandarban and Rangamati.

Rab started their drives in these areas on October 9.

The main purpose of the drives by the elite force was to capture those who are taking shelter and taking training there after tracing their location, Commander Khandaker Al Moin, director of Rab’s legal and Media Wing.

The arrestees confessed that they had an agreement with a separatist group (KNF) to provide them shelter and training in exchange for money, disclosed the Rab spokesman.

In 2021, the Amir of Jamatul Ansar fil Hindal Sharqiya had an agreement with the CHT-based armed group KNF regarding militant training in the area till next year. As per the agreement, Tk 3 lakh per month and food expenses of all KNF members were to be borne, according to the Rab officer.

Tourism banned in Bandarban

Bandarban district administration imposed a temporary restriction on visitors in Ruma and Rowangchhari upazilas from October 18 morning for the safety of tourists amid anti-militancy drive in the district's remote areas.

Later on October 23, the local administration discouraged tourists from traveling to Thanchi and Alikadam upazilas due to the same reason.

Read more: Anti-militancy drive in CHT: 10 arrestees sent to jail

The ban on tourism in Ruma and Rowangchhari upazilas has been extended for ninth time till December 4 while it was lifted in two others upazila.

1997 CHT Peace Accord

On December 2, 1997, PCJSS (Parbatya Chattogram Jana Sanghati Samity) signed the peace deal with the then-Awami League government.

Then Jatiya Sangsad Chief Whip Abul Hasnat Abdullah signed the agreement on behalf of the government while Jotirindra Bodhipriyo Larma (Santu Larma) on behalf of PCJSS.

One of the major conditions of the deal was to develop the three hill districts -- Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban --as tourism hotspots establishing peace. But this cannot be properly implemented due to the opposition of the anti-peace treaty groups.

Dipankar Talukdar, president of the Parliamentary Standing Committee to the Ministry of Food, and member of parliament from Rangamati constituency, said the anarchic situation created by killing and abducting innocent people who are in favour of the peace agreement in the hills is hindering the implementation of the peace agreement.

He said the distance and suspicion created between the two groups due to the signing of the peace accord are big obstacles for the implementation of the agreement.

“It is possible to implement the agreement in a peaceful manner through dialogue without giving such slogans that ‘we will return to the previous situation without being disappointed’.”

Former member of the National Human Rights Commission Miz Nirupa Dewan said the main goal of the CHT accord has not been established yet.

“The constitution of any country has political rights, economic rights, freedom of movement and right of expression. But the people of our hilly areas cannot fully enjoy it here,” she added.

Read more: Militants’ involvement with CHT’s KNF group being investigated: Home Minister

Armed groups in CHT

The PCJSS was formed in 1972. But a group of ethnic minority people, led by Prasit Bikash Khisa, formed the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) in 1998 opposing the peace treaty after the PCJSS had signed the peace deal with the then Awami League government led by the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, ending over two decades of tribal insurgency and bloodletting in the hill districts.

The PCJSS also faced a split as some of its members quit it in 2007 and formed PCJSS (Reformists) led by Sudha Sindho Khisa. UPDF's another armed group also formed a separate platform the UPDF (Democratic), led by Tapan Jyoti Chakma (alias Borma and Jalwa) on November 15, 2017.

Even after 25 years of the hill agreement, Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS), United People's Democratic Front (Prasit), UPDF (Gontantrik) and Mog Liberation Party (MLP) are creating anarchy in the hills, said Kazi Mojibur Rahman, Chairman of the Central Committee of the CHT Citizens Parishad.

Following the treaty with JSS (Santu Larma), Santu Larma got the opportunity to enjoy all the benefits. As a result, the armed organisation UPDF (Prasit) was formed under the leadership of Prasit Khisa.

New groups and forces are involved in crimes like extortion, murder, rape and kidnapping. Due to the internal strife and dominance of these organisations, struggles and conflicts have increased.

New groups like Kuki-Chin National are also emerging here, he added.

Hilly people are seeking more intervention from law enforcers to prevent the anarchy of the local armed groups as they are getting more involved in anti-state activities assisting the militants.