The government of Bangladesh has recently announced the formation of an Interim Government, to be led by Dr Muhammad Yunus. This change came as a result of vast political dissent from the public as to the former government’s failure to address pressing issues across the country. The UNPO commends this change in Bangladesh’s central government and views it as an opportunity to implement the 1997 CHT Peace Accord and open meaningful dialogue between the Interim Government and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS), a political organisation representing the indigenous people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).
The CHT is a region of Bangladesh where eleven indigenous ethnic groups reside – also known as the indigenous Jumma people. The region has a long history of resistance in a fight for autonomy and cultural preservation against the Bangladeshi government. Following independence from the British colonial authority, and later the conflict between Bangladesh and Pakistan, the CHT fell under the administration of the Bangladesh government. Despite the hopes of regaining their independence, the rights of the Jumma people were not respected, safeguarded or recognised under Bangladeshi legislation. As such, the CHT region became largely militarised and repressed by the central government, resulting in severe restrictions and violations of the human rights of the local population.
Notably, in 1997, the CHT Peace Accord was signed between the Government of Bangladesh and the PCJSS. This Peace Accord sought to address the ongoing tension in the CHT region by recognising the distinct identity and rights of the indigenous peoples. Furthermore, the Accord was said to address the long-standing grievances and promote dialogue between the local indigenous communities and the Bangladeshi government. However, approximately 27 years after the Accord was signed, the provisions were largely unfulfilled by the former Government of Bangladesh.
The UNPO expresses its concern over the ongoing violence directed against the Jumma people in the CHT region. On 19 and 20 September, volatile attacks against the Jumma broke out leading to the destruction of at least 40 shops and homes; the death of six indigenous peoples; and many others severely injured and forced to flee their homes. These targeted attacks are believed to be fuelled by the spread of misinformation about the Jumma.
At the time of the incident, Bangladeshi Army personnel were present yet failed to prevent the attacks or mitigate the violence – some even report that the personnel enabled these attacks. The events of 19 and 20 September are but just one example of the Jumma’s vulnerability and marginalisation. These recent attacks highlight the urgent need for the Interim Government to effectively implement the Peace Accords for the protection of the indigenous Jumma people, especially as tensions in the CHT region remain high.
In light of the above as well as the new changes in Bangladesh’s government, the UNPO addressed a letter to the leader of the Interim Government, Dr Muhammad Yunus. In this letter, the UNPO invites the Interim Government to bring the CHT back onto the national agenda to address the ongoing issues of demilitarisation, the introduction of a special governance system, resolution of land disputes and the preservation of status of the region for tribal-inhabitants. The implementation of the 1997 Peace Accords is a vital instrument for the recognition of rights of the indigenous Jumma people and is essential for building trust between the local community and central government. The UNPO cannot emphasise enough how important these Accords are for the rights of the Jumma peoples, particularly in the wake of the renewed violence in the region. Not only is the implementation of the Peace Accords vital for the respect and recognition of the rights of the Jumma people, but it is also a progressive hallmark for the government of Bangladesh in bringing its practices in line with international rules and norms. This is a positive opportunity both for indigenous peoples who are ever so often forgotten, as well as for the democratic progress of Bangladesh.
With this letter, the UNPO aims to foster dialogue and communication between the Jumma people and the Bangladeshi government. By addressing the interim government, the UNPO aims to underline the importance of respecting the fundamental human rights of all peoples, which includes the right of equal representation and political participation of the Jumma people in Bangladesh’s democratic system. While providing its support to facilitate such dialogue, the UNPO remains hopeful that this commitment to democratic principles and human rights is as much an opportunity for the Jumma people as it is for the rest of Bangladesh.
UNPO letter calling for the Implementation of the 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord
