The hilly region comprising of three hill districts viz: Rangamati, Bandorban and Khagrachari

BACKGROUND:

The hilly region comprising of three hill districts viz: Rangamati, Bandorban and Khagrachari, located at south-east corner of Bangladesh known as Chittagong Hill Tracts with 25 than as. Total area of the rcgion is 13.295 sq.km vith a population of 9, 74,445. The area is bordered by the Tripura State of India ii the North Mizoram of India in the North-West. The Cl- is inhabited by ten dilièrent linguistic tribes along with non-tribal population. The area covers vast forest land, “ide range of a hills and alluvial valley bottoms. Out of total 32,59,520 acres, forest covers 2423)45 acres which is three fourth of the total area.

The geography, ethnic composition, religion, culture and general of life of the people of this region are different from other parts of the country. People of different tribes, like the Chakma, Marma, Tripura etc. have been living in this region for years. The population density in CHT has been on the rise since 1951. largely due of 94 persons per sq.km. The economy of the CHT region is predominantly agrarian and an overwhelming majority of people depends on agriculture for their livelihood.

In 1960, a total of 55,000 acres of cultivable land was submerged due to building a dam on the Kaptai river of Rangamati. This area amounted to 40% of the total cultivable land of the CHT region. Thousands of families were economically affected and in 1964 about 50,000 families of Langadu, Barkal and Baghaichari thana went over to India.

Early seventies was the formation of the regional political party ‘Parbattya Chattagram Sanghati Dal” to realize the demand of the regional autonomy of the Larma tribe. Later in 1973 ‘Shantibahini emerged as the military front of the ‘Parbattaya Chttagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSSL In 976 CHT development Board “as formed and there was non-tribal rehabilitation in the ClIT region under government initiative.

As government’s settlement programs increased, so did the conflict between the tribal insurgent groups who were resisting the settling in of the non-tribal people in the sparsely populated land of the CUT region. Therefore, 1970s was a period of violence where indigenous tribes, settlers and security forces accused each other of human rights violation, Specific incidents have remained controversial because of limited access to the area in terms of travel restriction, tight security. difficult terrain and fear of being attacked by the insurgent group.

The 1980 was period of clashes and attempts of peacemaking in the form of several meclings between the PCJSS and the government. In 1984, the government and Shantibahini agreed to a cease-fire, and the first batch of refugees returned from Tripura state of India. The cease-fire was extended at regular intervals from 1994-1997 and saw the return of many refu2ees.

Finally on 2nd December 1997, after several rounds of discussions, the government signed a peace treaty between with representatives of the PCJSS. The treaty is expected to bring an end to unrest and insurgency existing in the hill districts of Ichagrachari. Rangamati and Bandarban for the half-past two decadcs residing in CHT as a landmark attempt for all to live in communal harmony.

In conjunction with the peace agreement, repatriation of tribal refugees from Tripura has been completed. With the last batch of people returning of on the 1st of March 1998 in CHT, the total number of returnees since 1994 stood at 63,861. With the signing of the treaty, PCJSS has / been more supportive of the repatriation and the Shanti Bahini has turned in their weapons to the government.