Members of the International Commission for Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) will meet Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina next week [August 2009]after completing their visit to CHT region, said Advocate Sultana Kamal, a former adviser to caretaker government and team leader of the commission, in Bandarban.

“After collecting the field-level information on the implementation of CHT peace accord by the government, it is very necessary for us to meet the PM,” said Sultana while addressing a discussion meeting with local Bangalee community leaders on Tuesday [11 August 2009] night.

A 15-member team of the International Commission for CHT had been visiting Bandarban hill district since Tuesday [11 August 2009].

During the visit the commission members had talks with senior officials of the army, chairman of Bandarban hill district council, deputy commissioner, Bhomong circle chief, and leaders of different of indigenous communities and Bangalee people to know the present situation.

A reliable source who attended all these meetings told this correspondent that the indigenous people spoke about their land grabbing by business groups and acquired by the government while the Bangalee leaders demanded equal rights and their securities.

“The UN and donor agencies are trying to ensure human rights of Rohingya people who came here from other country, but why the Bangalee people, who are the citizens of this country, are not getting the sympathy of the commission,” asked the Bangalee leaders.

Replying to the question Sultana said, “The commission has no interest for any quarter. It is only trying to find out the way for establishing peace in the region.”

The commission yesterday visited some disputed areas under sadar and Lama upazilas and left Bandarban in the afternoon.

This was the second visit of CHT commission in Bandarban.