Initiatives to implement peace accord in CHT -The Asian Age

The government has launched a new project for the economically backward Chittagong Hill Tracts which the United Nations Development Programme views as Bangladesh's commitment to fully implement the 1997 peace accord. The UNDP in partnership with USAID and Danida will help implement the project titled "Strengthening Inclusive Development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (SID-CHT)" for the next five years.

The Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs as the executing agency will assume overall ownership and responsibility for project activities and will be accountable for the results. The project has received $31.63 million in funding. It is focusing on the sustainable and inclusive development of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the UNDP said in a statement on Sunday.

This is a continuation of a project "Promotion of Development and Confidence Building in the CHT" that has been implemented with "significant" results since 2003 in the three districts of the CHT area - Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban.

"The new project will support the Government of Bangladesh to continue development in the Hill Tracts and enable the institutions of the CHT and local communities to pursue accelerated and sustainable socio-economic development," Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing, State Minister for the Chittagong Hill Tracts, was quoted as saying in the statement.

Kyoko Yokosuka, UNDP Bangladesh Acting Country Director, said the purpose of development interventions in CHT was "to make the entire region conflict-proof so that the people can pursue their development aspirations in a peaceful democratic environment and that no one is left behind".

-bd news 24.com