Speakers lament ‘deprivation’, claim disgusting conditions in hills
IH News Desk
GLOBAL, February 16, 2025: A public meeting and discussion was held in Rangamati to celebrate the 53rd founding anniversary of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS), apex organisation of the indigenous people in Bangladesh. The event was chaired by Gunendu Bikash Chakma and moderated by Suman Marma.
The central vice-president of the association, Ushatan Talukder, stated that the Jumma people have not seen any improvement in their situation since signing the Chittagong Hill Tracts Agreement. Instead, they have been deceived and continue to live in disgusting conditions.
The programme was also attended by the chief guest Ushatan Talukder and special guests KS Mong Marma, Prakriti Ranjan Chakma, Bhabatosh Dewan, and Shanti Devi Tanchangya. Talukder underlined that a political party is a product of the collective willpower of the people and that the PCJSS has been engaged in the struggle for national liberation.
He urged the Jumma people to critically examine the truth and falsehoods surrounding their situation, join the movement, and prepared for any kind of struggle at any time. The event also discussed the history of the Jumma people in Bangladesh including the introduction of the Regulation of 1900 for separate governance during the British period the displacement of the Jumma people due to the construction of the Kaptai Dam in 1960 and the erasure of their national identity in 1972.
This led to human rights violations, land seizures, and the creation of refugees. Special guest KS Mong Marma underscored the importance of breaking the cycle of exploitation, oppression, deprivation and tyranny for the Jumma people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
The organisation began a democratic movement under the leadership of MN Larma, but no government has shown goodwill in implementing the agreement. If the national structure is to be reformed, there must be representation for all oppressed people and the Chittagong Hill Tracts should be a priority for the future.
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