Bangla-CHT peace accord challenged in High Court

Dhaka, Aug 27 (UNI) Bangladesh High Court today issued a ruling upon the government to explain why the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) peace treaty signed with Chakma tribal leaders in 1997 should not be declared without lawful authority.

After a brief hearing on a Public Interest Litigation writ, a two-judge bench headed by Justice Shah Abu Nayeem Mominur Rahman issued the order asking the government to answer within eight weeks.

On December 2, 1997, the Sheikh Hasina government signed the peace accord with Parbattya Chattagram Jano Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) leader Jyotirindra Bodhipriaya Larma alias Shantu Larma, putting an end to over a two-decade old insurgency.

The tribal guerrillas also surrendered their arms to the government following the peace treaty.The accord also brought back Chakma refugees from camps in Indian state of Tripura.

Advocate Mohammad Tajul Islam filed and moved the writ petition, challenging the 1997 treaty that had led to the disbanding of the "Shanti Bahini" led by Larma to end their protracted bush war for self-rule in the rugged but resourceful hill tracts.

Moving the writ Tajul submitted that the CHT peace treaty questioned the integrity and sovereignty of the State. "It is also tantamount to violation of the Constitution," he argued.

With the issuance of the ruling, the CHT peace accord got challenged after a decade since its coming into force.

UNI