4/22/2004 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) undertook a massive five-year development programme in three districts of Chittagong Hill Tracts that also aims at building confidence and social cohesion among the divergent ethnic growths, said a press release.
The project started on April 14 this month under direct execution scheme of the UNDP with estimated expenses of 45.20 million US dollars. This was divulged at the meeting Tuesday between Muhammad Mosharraf Hossain, MP, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on CHT Affairs and Jorgen Lissner, Resident Representative of the UNDP. Among others, Secretary of the Ministry of CHT Affairs and Michael Heyn, UNDP Director on Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Facility were also present.
Heyn elaborated all aspects of the project that aims at confidence-building by strengthening and stretching the roles of institutions and by initiating and promoting different interactive programmes between Bangalee and hill people to build confidence and ethnic cohesion.
M Mosharraf Hossain, MP, lauded the initiative and stressed that equitable development of both Bangalee and Hill people in CHT only can ensure sustainable growth and confidence-building and opined that economic betterment is the key to ease out the ethnic tension. He assured the UNDP representative of all possible support of the government.

Source: Financial Express