Hill women demand white paper on repression in CHT

Kalpana Chakma abduction anniv observed
A section of ethnic minority women staged demonstrations in Rangamati Friday asking the government to publish a white paper on repression carried out in its different forms allegedly by the security forces on the ethnic minority groups.
They made the demand along with a few others at a rally organised marking the 13th anniversary of the 1996 abduction of Kalpana Chakma, once the organising secretary of Hill Women’s Federation, a platform for political empowerment of backward women on the highlands.
Jointly organised by the federation and the Parbatya Chattagram Mahila Samiti in front of Rangamati stadium, the rally also called for publication of the full report on Kalpana abduction investigation and punishment of the kidnappers.
Ushatan Talukder, political affairs secretary of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti, Parvin Akhter of Samajtantrik Mahila Forum, Hamid Meer of Chittagong University, Jyoti Prava Chakma and Udayan Tripura of Pahari Chhatra Parisahd addressed, among others, the rally president over by Madhabilata Chamka, president of the samiti.
The federation and family members of Kalpana Chakma alleged that soldiers had picked her up from her home in Baghaichhari upazila in Rangamati on the night of June 12, 2006 and she never came back.
The then Awami League-government, which later signed a treaty with the PCJSS to end the decades-long conflict in the hills, turned a blind eye to her kidnapping during its tenure between 1996 and 2001.
In response to protests by the ethnic minority people and members of the civil society who wanted Kalpana to be returned to her family, the government formed a committee to investigate the incident. The committee submitted a report, but the government never made it public.
In Dhaka a protest rally was organised on the day by the federation and the samiti at Sahbagh crossing, where academics, rights activists and members of the civil society expressed solidarity with the demands of the ethnic minority groups.
They urged the government to take steps to stop repression in all its forms in the CHT and remove all temporary military bases established during the conflict.
‘The present government cannot turn a blind eye to repression in Chittagong Hill Tracts where a peace treaty is in place,’ writer Sharier Kabir told the rally. He called for immediate steps to stop rights violation of the minority groups.
Professor Sirajul Islam Chowdhury said that Kalpana’s abduction was a glaring example of the state’s failure to take care of its citizens. He called upon the Awami League government, which signed the peace agreement more than a decade ago, to ensure that the ethnic minorities in the hills could live in peace.
Professor Mesbah Kamal demanded full publication of the report on Kalpana Chakma abduction.
The rally demanded a constitutional provision for having three female lawmakers for the three hill district to be represented by the ethnic groups.
The rally was attended by columnist Syed Abul Maksud, the president of Sammilita Nari Samaj, Farida Akhter, the general secretary of Bangladesh Adibashi Forum, Sanjeeb Drong, politician Haider Akbar Khan Rano, development activist Rokeya Kabir, Dhaka University professor Sadeka Halim, former student leader Depayan Khisa and Jatiya Adibashi Parishad leader Rabindranath Saren.

Courtesy of NewAgebd