Proceedings of the International Academic Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Issues in promoting peace and harmony among the indigenous communities of Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh
Venerable Pronoy Dhammabodhi
ABSTRACT:
Chittagong Hill Tracts, a significant division in Bangladesh, is home to diverse minority groups including Chakma, Marma, and Tanchangya, who migrated from India and Mongolia centuries ago. Most of the indigenous groups are followers of Buddhism having their own Buddhist identities. But in modern days the life of these tribes is at stake and they are struggling to survive and safeguard themselves from an increasing threats and attacks from radicalized Muslim groups. Frequent records of sexual abuses against indigenous women in Hill Tracts reveal the ongoing issue of forced settlers snatching lands from indigenous communities. In order to alleviate all these issues, the Jano Samhati Samiti (JSS) a party representing the inhabitants of Chittagong Hill Tracts, had signed a peace accord in 1997 with the Government of Bangladesh with an objective to elevate political, social, cultural, educational and financial rights and to expedite socio- economic development process of all citizens in CHT. The indigenous peoples face encroachment on their traditional lands by settlers from other parts of Bangladesh. This is often facilitated by government policies and economic pressures. There are ongoing political tensions and rivalries among different indigenous groups, as well as between indigenous leaders and the Bangladeshi government. Somehow, fully implementation and recognition of the rights of CHT has been a political conspiracy today.
keywords: Indigenous-community, CHT peace-accord, Violence, Human rights, Minority groups