United News of Bangladesh

Nestled in the folds of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Khagrachhari transforms into a vibrant haven for holidaymakers each Eid-ul-Azha. As the festival brings with it the promise of rest and togetherness, the district's scenic beauty and serene landscapes offer the perfect setting for families and friends seeking a brief escape from the bustle of daily life. During the Eid holidays, Khagrachhari's charm seems more pronounced--its green hills lusher, waterfalls more inviting and the air touched with the vibration of festive excitement. Visitors, both local and from afar, roam through forest trails, pose for photos beside misty cascades and explore curving cave paths in search of thrill and mystery. The appeal of Alutila, with its enigmatic cave and panoramic views, has only grown stronger in recent years. Tourism restrictions lifted in parts of Bandarban nearly after a year Renovations and new attractions have added to its allure, making it a focal point for those wanting both adventure and Instagram-worthy vistas. Meanwhile, other locations like Risang Waterfall, Mayabini Lake and Devta Pukur offer tranquil retreats that seem untouched by time. Away from nature’s embrace, local markets buzz with the business of the season. Stalls brim with handmade crafts, woven garments and tribal jewellery, drawing tourists not just to the region’s sights, but also to its culture. The festive rush spills over into hotels and resorts, where the clinking of tea cups and the scent of freshly cooked meals set the rhythm of leisure. Eid Tourism: 'Monotony' outside Dhaka, 'confinement' within Khagrachhari, with its calm yet celebratory spirit, becomes more than just a destination during Eid, it turns into a meeting point of tradition and tourism, culture and nature. As visitors leave with bags full of souvenirs and hearts filled with memories, the district quietly readies itself for the next wave of wanderers, ever welcoming, ever unchanged in its beauty.

Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Adviser Supradip Chakma on Friday said there is no alternative to ensuring the quality education in the hilly region to remain competitive with the country’s mainstream. “To compete with the national mainstream, ensuring quality education in the Chittagong Hill Tracts area is a must,” he said.  CA Prof Yunus to visit UK after Eid to refresh Dhaka-London bonds The adviser  made this remark while addressing a workshop at the conference room of the Rangamati Hill District Council on enhancing skills related to the Grievance Redress System (GRS). He emphasised improving the standard of living in the hilly districts and encouraged women entrepreneurs to come forward to promote self-employment among women. “Development should not be limited to district headquarters; it must be visible in all upazilas of the district,” he said adding it is essential to ensure proper monitoring of the implementation of the development initiatives. Supradip urged all concerned at the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, the CHT Development Board, the CHT Regional Council, and the Hill District Councils to always follow Cabinet instructions. Speaking at the workshop, CHT Affairs Secretary Md Abdul Khaleque said the government introduced the GRS system to ensure service delivery for people. “This workshop aims to enhance the skills of people in remote areas,” he said.  Prof Yunus for maintaining stable security situation, appreciates security forces The secretary highlighted the importance of the Citizen’s Charter, the National Integrity Strategy, GRS, Right to Information and Annual Performance Agreement, said a PID handout here.

The Ambassadors of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, together with the Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh, visited the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) this week, reaffirming their strong commitment to inclusive and sustainable development in the region. Led by Stefan Liller, UNDP Resident Representative, and joined by Christian Brix Møller (Denmark), Håkon Arald Gulbrandsen (Norway), and Nicolas Weeks (Sweden), the high-level delegation engaged with diverse indigenous communities, local government officials, women-led committees, and youth groups across Rangamati and Bandarban. The mission spotlighted key development initiatives implemented by UNDP with the government of Bangladesh and with Nordic support, ranging from health and education to climate resilience, gender-based violence prevention, and livelihood enhancement. The visit, from April 27 to 30, emphasized the importance of sustained development partnerships in CHT, a region marked by ethnic diversity and complex socio-political dynamics. Since the 1997 Peace Accord, the Chittagong Hill Tracts have gradually moved towards peace and progress, yet significant challenges remain in areas such as climate change adaptation, healthcare, education, gender equality, and the rights of indigenous peoples. “Denmark is proud of its long-standing support to the Chittagong Hill Tracts through UNDP,” said Christian Brix Møller, Ambassador of Denmark. “While challenges remain, particularly the full implementation of the CHT Peace Accord, we see strong potential for sustainable growth in areas like eco-tourism and organic agriculture. These sectors can empower communities and foster self-reliance. Denmark remains committed to working together to advance climate adaptation, sustainable agriculture, and the rights of indigenous peoples.” Bangladesh is modernising authentication process: MOFA During the mission, the delegation visited remote villages engaging with women-led Climate Resilience Committees, observing solar-powered school transportation, and interacting with community-based health workers and teachers. “It’s inspiring to see communities, especially women, taking the lead in their own development,” said Håkon Arald Gulbrandsen, Ambassador of Norway. “Despite challenges like climate change, water scarcity, and limited access to education, their resilience is truly remarkable. Our visit to the Gender-Based Violence Victim Support Centre was particularly moving. The dedication of the team there is commendable. Supporting such essential services is vital to building safer, stronger communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.” The delegation also visited Village Common Forests (VCFs), and infrastructure projects aimed at improving basic service delivery. These interventions, many facilitated by UNDP in partnership with the Nordic countries, are integral to strengthening local governance and ensuring that no one is left behind in Bangladesh’s development journey. “It has been a privilege to spend these four days in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, engaging with its vibrant communities and witnessing their strength and resilience,” said Nicolas Weeks, Ambassador of Sweden. “It’s impressive to see how these communities are adapting to new realities and being positive role models for change and development. Sweden deeply values the cultural richness of this region. We are proud of our long-standing partnership with UNDP here in CHT, supporting efforts in education, healthcare, climate resilience, and gender equality.” “Our joint mission to the Chittagong Hill Tracts with the Ambassadors of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden has been a powerful reminder of the impact of long-term partnership,” said Stefan Liller, Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh. “For over two decades, support from these countries has enabled us to work alongside communities and government counterparts to drive inclusive, sustainable development.”

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. Govt working to resolve land issues in CHT: Adviser Supradip “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.  

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has laid emphasis on the expansion of technology in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) to bridge the gap in communication. “The hilly areas are inaccessible, hence communication is difficult. That's why there is a need for technology to expand. This distance can be overcome with technology,” he said while virtually addressing a training programme ‘Hilly Zilla Parishad Management’ at the CHT Complex in Dhaka on Wednesday. The chief adviser said the hill districts which are enriched with natural beauty and resources could be the best development zone but it is lagging behind others. “You (CHT people) were supposed to move forward with their crops, fruits, and traditional products,” he said. Recalling memories of women footballers came from the CHT and their struggles in clinching a trophy recently, Dr Yunus said, “Your daughters have won the world in football. The youths should not only be citizens of Bangladesh, they should be citizens of the world. It will not be left behind as a remote area. There will be limitations, but the limits of mind have to be expanded. You have to reach out to people all over the world with your credit.” Read: CHT peace accord: Amendment to provisions contradicting Constitution demanded He invited youths from the CHT to attend the youth festival scheduled to be held in January next and urged their parents to encourage their children to participate in the festival. He urged the youth to go forward with education and CHT will not stay behind compared to the big cities

Tourism businesses in Sunamganj are bouncing back gradually after suffering significant losses for over two months due to three rounds of flood and political instability. Restrictions in several tourist areas of the Chittagong Hill Tracts redirected tourists to Sunamganj’s famed Haor region, including Tanguar Haor and the Tahirpur border areas, providing a much-needed boost to local businesses. Houseboat owners said they suffered losses amounting to around Tk 50 crore during this period. Tour operators said they are now facing overwhelming demand, with all houseboats fully booked in advance. Travel ban hits tourism businesses in CHT hard Popular tourist destinations like Tanguar Haor, Shaheed Siraj Lake (Niladri), Shimul Garden, and the Jadukata River are now filled with visitors. Aziz Sarkar, a banker from Rajshahi, expressed his amazement after exploring the region for the first time. “The Tanguar Haor has amazed us greatly. We are overjoyed. We have never seen such large haor before. The diversity of the haor, especially the settlements on its shores, and how they survive and live, has left a mark on our minds,” said Aziz, who came with a group of 36 people, most of whom are bank employees. Tourist Mahbuba Rahman Sathi, a tourist from Dhaka, said, “We had been planning to visit Tanguar Haor for a long time. The weather is good now, so we came. Our group consists of 12 family members. Sylhet is always beautiful, but the haor is even more beautiful. We’ve been touring in a houseboat since morning. It feels great.” However, the region’s poor road infrastructures are challenge for visitors, said some tourists. Moulvibazar Travel Guide: Explore the Top Tourist Attractions “The road from Sunamganj to Tahirpur is in bad shape. Women and children, in particular, had a hard time getting here. These things stand as obstacles to the development of tourist areas,” said Manjurul Islam Soumik from Feni. He also raised concerns about the lack of visible tourist police and disconnected phone numbers listed on safety sign boards. Responding to these complaints, Habibur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge of the Tourist Police in Sunamganj, explained that his mobile phone had been out of service due to damage but is now operational. “We have 8 members. The tourist police are working round the clock to ensure the safety of tourists,” he said. Arian Emon, CEO of Haimanti Houseboat, said, “We have incurred losses of around Tk 50 crore in the past two months. Currently, due to the restrictions in Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari tourists are coming to the Haor. All our boats are fully booked. Many are still trying to book. There’s now a festive atmosphere in the Haor,” he said. Trip to Tanguar Haor, Sunamganj: Majestic aquatic beauty soaking the horizon

Participatory election, overall election process and Chittagong Hill Tracts issues were briefly discussed at a meeting over lunch with US Assistant Secretary of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu held at Foreign Service Academy on Sunday. Awami League International Affairs Secretary Dr. Shammi Ahmed, Prof. Imtiaz Ahmed, Dr. Lailufar Yasmin, Dr. Delwar Hossain and Chief Executive of the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) Syeda Rizwana Hasan, among others, were present. “They (US side) said, we don’t speak on behalf of any political party; we talk about certain processes and the rights of the people,” said Syeda Rizwana while talking to the reporters after the meeting. She said only participation of the BNP and other parties and the election process were discussed and there was no further discussion on any other aspects of the election scenario in Bangladesh. Also Read: Rab made ‘tremendous progress’ in ‘respecting rights’ while performing duties: Donald Lu observes She mentioned that no BNP leader was present at the meeting. According to a meeting source, two of the participants expressed optimism about the BNP’s participation in the next election.  “There was no conclusive discussion about human rights issues, but the Chittagong Hill Tracts issue was discussed during the meeting,” said Syeda Rizwana in response to another question. The US senior official is visiting Bangladesh to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relationships, expand economic engagement, and go over the labor and human rights situation. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen hosted the lunch in honour of Donald Lu and his delegation members.    

The 25th anniversary of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord will be observed on Friday. Different programmes have been arranged in the three hilly districts, marking the anniversary of the peace treaty. Read more: 25 Years of CHT Peace Accord: Eminent citizens say expectation remains unfulfilled President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday issued separate messages marking the completion of 25 years of the significant treaty. President Abdul Hamid in his massage said Chittagong Hill Tracts is rich with natural resources and a place of potentials. The Peace Accord is speeding up the socio-economic and cultural development of Chittagong Hill Tracts, he said. He urged all to work unitedly for the development of the hill region. In her message, the Prime Minister said the Awami League government has been working tirelessly for the overall development of the hilly region in the light of the peace treaty. Various schemes are being implemented for the development of all sectors including education, health, electricity, communication, infrastructure and mobile network in the region, she added.  “We are committed to maintain peace all over the country including Chittagong Hill Tracts,” said the PM. “I hope we will be able to build a peaceful, happy Sonar Bangladesh as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman through the socio-economic development of the Hill Tracts people with united efforts of all.” Read more: PM is very sincere to CHT people: Ushwe Sing She sought cooperation from all to fully implement the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord. On December 2, 1997, Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (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 Joritindra Bodhipriyo Larma (Santu Larma) on behalf of PCJSS.

Prominent citizens of the country have demanded full implementation of all the commitments in line with the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord by removing all obstacles, noting that expectation still remains unfulfilled. On December 2, 1997, the government of Bangladesh and Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti signed this historic agreement in an effort to find a political solution to the problems in the CHT. Forty-one eminent citizens placed an eight-point demand mentioning that the implementation of the peace accord has not advanced as anticipated. “It is a matter of great regret that in the 25 years of the agreement, no progress has been made as expected in the implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts agreement though several clauses of the agreement have been implemented,” reads a joint statement signed by Shamsul Huda, Executive Director of Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD). Read more: Celebrating the Peace Accord in Hill Tracts In particular, the eminent citizens said that it is very sad that no effective initiative has been taken to advance the process of implementing the agreement though the Awami League government that signed the agreement has been in power for the third consecutive term. “We are deeply concerned about the ineffectiveness and inaction of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Land Commission. Recently, their regular meetings had to be adjourned several times due to interference from vested interests. The silence of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs or the government in this regard is very sad,” they said in the statement. Specific demands from the civil society include full implementation of all commitments proposed in the agreement, necessary budget, manpower and visible support of the highest level of government for the proper functioning of the land dispute resolution commission. Rights activist Sultana Kamal, ALRD Chairperson and Nijera Kori Coordinator Khushi Kabir, eminent economist and researcher Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Research Initiative Bangladesh (RIB) Executive Director Dr Meghna Guhathakurta, General Secretary of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad Rana Dasgupta, Executive Director of TIB Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Dr. Abul Barkat, Prof Mesbah Kamal and Shaheen Anam are among the 41 signatories of the statement. Read more: CHT Peace Treaty: A chase of an illusion! Recently, a high-level delegation of the United Nations in Bangladesh and key development partners visited the Chittagong Hill Tracts to see first-hand the development initiatives in the area. The week-long visit from November 13 to November 17 covered the hill districts of Khagrachhari and Rangamati. The delegation included UN Resident Coordinator Gwyn Lewis, EU Ambassador Charles Whiteley, UK High Commissioner Robert Chatterton Dickson and Norway Ambassador Espen Rikter-Svendsen. UNDP Resident Representative Stefan Liller, UNFPA Country Representative Kristine Blokhus, FAO Country Representative Robert Simpson and UNICEF Country Representative Sheldon Yett were also in the delegation. Read More: 25th anniversary of CHT Peace Treaty on Friday UN Resident Coordinator Gwyn Lewis said development work in the Chittagong Hill Tracts has been hugely successful, but lack of access and remoteness of many communities remains an ongoing challenge. "The indigenous communities in the CHT have led impressive efforts to preserve and rehabilitate forests and their natural habitat. Climate change has made their work even more vital,” Lewis said on Thursday. Lewis also said that the visit provided her with a scope to familiarise herself with the region, listen to the concerns of women and adolescents and visit a range of different programmes. “UN and Partners’ support in CHT must be inclusive and in line with Agenda 2030’s promise of leaving no one behind to achieve a concerted, effective and sustainable development of the Chittagong Hill Tracts,” she added. Read More: Issues in implementing CHT Peace Accord should be identified, resolved: Bir Bahadur

The traditional outfit of Bangladesh’s largest ethnic minority group, the Chakma, is known as ‘Pinon Hadi’.   The upper part of the outfit is called Hadi, a piece of fabric worn diagonally across the body over the shoulder.