Khaleda meets tribal leaders

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia met leaders of a regional political party in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) yesterday, a day after two tribal groups fought an armed battle leaving two dead.

This was the first time that the Khaleda government had an official talk with the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) since it came to power.

Officials said yesterday's talks focused on the progress in the implementation of the CHT peace treaty and measures to improve the law and order in three hill districts.

The Awami League government signed the peace treaty on December 2, 1997, with the PCJSS, the political wing of the now defunct Shanti Bahini (that fought for autonomy of the hilly region), ending decades-long armed insurgency in the CHT.

Awami League leader and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina received a Unesco award for signing the peace treaty, which was widely acclaimed as a landmark one.

Then in the opposition, Khaleda's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) strongly opposed the peace treaty. Her party also led a long-march against the treaty. The BNP promised to scrap the treaty in its election manifesto.

The talks concentrated on proper implementation of the peace treaty, but nothing was discussed on cancellation, officials at the prime minister's office said. It also discussed ways to resolve conflicts between the rival groups in the three hill districts.

Deputy Minister for CHT Affairs Moni Swapan Dewan, PCJSS chief Jyotirindro Bodhipriyo Larma popularly known as Shantu Larma and his party colleagues including Goutam Chakma and Rupayan Dewan were present in the meeting.

On Friday, two tribal people were killed and two others injured in Rangamati hill district following a clash between the PCJSS and United Peoples' Democratic Front (UPDF), another party of tribal people.