Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS) Vice President and former lawmaker Ushatan Talukder said on Friday that there is no security of life of the people living in the hill tracts when he also demanded the full execution of the treaty.   He came up with the remarks while addressing as chief guest at a rally organised to mark the 25 years of ‘Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord’ at Rangamati Gymnasium Ground. PCJSS organised the rally. Urging all the ethnic minority groups to be united to realise their rights, he said the hill tracts accord is not an economic issue, rather it is a political issue, which will have to be faced politically in a peaceful manner.   “The government is heading towards a wrong path with the hilly regions, the government created KNF to stand against the PCJSS”, he said. Addressing the emergence of the militants in the hilly disrtricts, he alleged that the KNF is giving training to the militants who ultimately will hatch conspiracy against the country. Read: 25th anniversary of CHT Peace Accord : Militant activities new challenge after emergence of Kuki-Chin National Front The full implementation of the peace accord has been impeded due to bureaucratic complexities and other tactics despite passing of 25 years of the deal, he alleged.  The government lacks sincerity in implementing the deal inked with PCJSS, and for that the land commission is yet to start their works thoroughly, he said.  He urged the government to be more sincere to implement the longstanding accord for the betterment of the people in the region. With PCJSS Rangamati President Gongha Manik Chakma in the chair, Jubo Union Central President Khan Masuduzzaman, Chattogram Regional President of Bangladesh Adibasi Forum Prokriti Ranjan Chakma also spoke. Marking 25 years of the treaty, a colourful procession was brought out from Rangamati College premises. Brigadier General Imtiaz Uddin inaugurated the rally by releasing balloons and freeing pigeons at the college.     Alongside the Rangamati, the anniversary was also observed in Khargrachhari. Read: 25th anniversary of CHT Peace Treaty on Friday Different programmes were arranged in the three hilly districts on Friday marking the anniversary. A colourful rally, arranged by Khagrachhari Hill District Parishad, was brought out from the Zila Parishad premises following a discussion meeting on CHT treaty, peace and development. On December 2, 1997, the PCJSS signed the peace deal with the then Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina. Then Jatiya Sangsad Chief Whip Abul Hasnat Abdullah signed the agreement on behalf of the government while Jyotirindriyo Bodhipriyo Larma alias Shantu Larma signed on behalf of PCJSS.

Dhaka, Aug 06 (UNB) – Experts have called for more engagement of the private sector to attain the goals of the Bangladesh Delta Plan (BDP) 2100. They were speaking at the "Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100: Private Sector Involvement to achieve a Safe, Climate-Resilient and Prosperous Delta" organised by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) in Dhaka Saturday. FBCCI President Md Jashim Uddin called for direct involvement of the private sector for the effective implementation of the BDP 2100. Private sector engagement will enhance the pace and improve the quality of river management, water supply in urban and rural areas, waste management, flood control and drainage management, Jashim said. Read: PM seeks international support for Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 The BDP 2100 aims to ensure long-term water and food security, economic growth and environmental sustainability while effectively reducing vulnerability to natural disasters and building resilience to climate change and other delta challenges issues through robust, adaptive and integrated strategies and equitable water governance. And dredgers and other heavy machinery used in the implementation of the projects undertaken to achieve the Delta goals are heavily dependent on import. So, the FBCCI president urged the government to keep the tariff rate of these products at a reasonable level. "The total duty on dredgers is now 31 percent, which was earlier 1 percent." Planning State Minister Shamsul Alam also called for a review of the import duty on dredgers. "The government has only 30 dredgers, but more than 200 dredgers are needed for this work. So, the entire dredging work should be left to the private sector," he said. Brac University Emeritus Professor of Ainun Nishat suggested revising the BDP 2100 every five years. Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Farhina Ahmed said a $230 billion private investment is needed to implement the BDP 2100. "So, more involvement of the private sector is a must."