United News of Bangladesh

State Minister for Land and Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin on Saturday said the government wants to ensure economic freedom for the people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) by creating employment opportunities and expanding economic activities in the region. "We believe the greatest freedom for people is economic freedom. We want to ensure this economic freedom for the people of the CHT under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. We are working in different sectors to create employment opportunities," he said while inaugurating the three-day Hill Fruits Fair-2026 at the Chittagong Hill Tracts Complex on Bailey Road in the capital. The fair, organised by Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Ministry under the theme "Paharhi Foler Ghran, Baichitramoy Pran" (The aroma of hill fruits, a life of diversity), will continue until Monday. Helal said promoting the region's fruits and agricultural products would help earn international recognition for the CHT while creating employment opportunities for local people. Referring to the Chittagong Hill Tracts Complex established during the tenure of martyred President Ziaur Rahman, the state minister said the existing facilities are inadequate. "At present there is only a school building here. We have already started planning to construct a full-fledged multipurpose complex under the leadership of the ministry's secretary and the direction of the chairman of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board," he said. He said the proposed complex would primarily serve disadvantaged and underprivileged people of the region.