Rangamati, July 19 (V7N) - The Peace Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee convened its first meeting under the current interim government on Saturday, July 19, in Rangamati. The session, held at the Rest House of the Chattogram Hill Tracts Development Board in Bhedbhedi, began at 10:30 AM and continued until early afternoon.
 
The meeting was chaired by Committee Convenor and Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohammad Touhid Hossain. Key figures present included Supradip Chakma, Advisor to the Ministry of Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs and former Ambassador; Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, also known as Santu Larma, Chairman of the CHT Regional Council and President of the JSS (one of the original signatories of the 1997 Accord); Sudatta Chakma, Chairman of the Task Force on the Rehabilitation of Returnee Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons; regional council member Gautam Chakma; Joint Secretary of the CHT Affairs Ministry Kangkan Chakma; and Deputy Secretaries Mangal Chandra Paul and Shamsul Haque.
 
Speaking to journalists following the meeting, Advisor Touhid Hossain described the discussion as "fruitful," noting that recognizing the existence of unresolved issues is the first step toward finding long-term solutions.
 
He stated, “Problems persist in the Chattogram Hill Tracts region, and this is precisely why the full implementation of a decades-old peace accord remains incomplete. However, as this was our first meeting, we focused on identifying smaller, actionable issues that can be addressed immediately.”
 
When asked about specific causes behind the delay in implementing the Accord, the Advisor replied, “There is no need to identify problems anew—we all are aware of the challenges that exist in the region. What matters now is building trust and working collaboratively towards sustainable solutions.”
 
Santu Larma also spoke to the press, calling the meeting sincere and productive. He emphasized the importance of continued dialogue and mutual commitment to advancing the implementation of the 1997 Chattogram Hill Tracts Peace Accord.
 
The meeting marked a renewed effort to address long-standing challenges in the Hill Tracts region, including land disputes, rehabilitation of displaced populations, political representation, and full implementation of administrative and constitutional provisions promised under the Accord. While no major announcements were made, participants indicated that the meeting served as an important foundation for building consensus and streamlining future actions.
 
The Peace Accord, signed in 1997 between the Government of Bangladesh and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS), aimed to bring an end to decades of insurgency and unrest in the region. Although several provisions have been implemented since then, key components such as land commission functionality, local governance reforms, and full demilitarization remain pending.
 
Observers view this meeting as a critical step in revitalizing political will and administrative coordination under the current interim government. The outcomes of future sessions will be closely watched by stakeholders both within Bangladesh and in the international community.
 
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