Two decades of armed conflict came to an end with the signing of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord on 2 December 1997. The Bangladesh government signed this agreement with the hill party Jana Sangh Samiti (JSS). This day 25 years ago gave hope to the Pahari people and everyone else.
Today, Friday, is the Silver Jubilee of the CHT Peace Accord. The day could certainly have been celebrated with much more pomp and festivity by all concerned. However, the JSS has observed the day by organizing a discussion meeting with a call to join the ‘larger movement for proper and full implementation of the accord’. The discussion was organized by the JSS and the Bangladesh Tribal Forum at the Liberation War Museum in the capital city to mark 25 years of the accord.
In this program, the banner called upon everyone to join the movement. The agreement was signed on behalf of JSS by party chief and CHT regional council chairman Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Shantu Larma. The pain was also visible in his voice.
Shantu Larma said, “The accord was a sacred document for me. I signed the accord on behalf of the hill people. I wanted to see its successful implementation every single day, every month, every year. are done.” I think these are wasted years of my life. I could have contributed to the development and prosperity of the people of this country, but that was not the case.”
Speaking in today’s Friday program, Shantu Larma repeatedly went back 25 years. He talked about the struggle of the hill people for autonomy. In a packed auditorium, he highlighted various features of the agreement in front of the media and others. He said that the trust and confidence with which he had entered into a treaty with the government is now proving useless for him.