THE PEACE TREATY

THE PEACE TREATY

A historic Peace Treaty was signed between the Government of Bangladesh and the Janasanghati Samity of the Chittagong Hill Tracts on December 2, 1997. The Chief Whip of the government party in the par lament, Mr. Abdul Hasnat Abdullah signed it on behalf of the government with the president of Janasanghati Samity Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma. At the occasion of the singing of the agreement, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was present.

The Peace Treaty has shown to the world that political problems can be solved through negotiations. The Treaty has ended the blood feud that has ravaged the hill Tracts for more than 18 years. It consists of four main guarantee clauses. Each cause contains a further series of sub-clauses. To realize the Treaty a three-member committee has been formed with a convener to be nominated by the Prime Minister.
All governments of the past had taken up attempt to find a solution to the Hill Tracts problems without much success. The late Hill Tracts leader, Manabendra Narayan Larma, demanded provincial autonomy in 1972. The government of that time refused that. In 1973, the armed cadre of the Janasanghati Samity named as ‘shanti Bahini’ was formed. Then much bloodshed occurred. People got killed indiscriminately.
The reality is that the people of hill districts want nothing but peace. They want to lead a normal peaceful life. Many of the tribal people who crossed the border out of fear have now started coming back after the singing of the Treaty. People who criticize the government do not, however, come forward with better alternatives.

In conclusion, we can say that the peace Treaty has been received positively by the world bodies. And, indecently tension has ceased up in the Hill Tracts since the signing of the agreement. Finally, we hope that the Peace Treaty survives in the coming days.