Army pullout from CHT will be suicidal: Delwar

Tipai Dam will be a ‘death-trap’ for Bangladeshis, he says

Staff Correspondent

BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain on Monday has said the government step for withdrawing army camps from Chittagonj Hill Tracts (CHT) is not wise as army pullout without ensuring social, political and economical security of the hill people will be suicidal.
He said this while addressing a discussion meeting on the construction of Tipaimukh Dam and withdrawal of army camps from CHT organised by Jatiyatabadi Tanti Dal, a front organisation of BNP at the National Press Club.
Khandaker Delwar said thousands of Bangalees of the country’s hill districts are raising voices against the government decision through holding demonstrations, rallies, seminars and meetings in the areas. Ignoring their resistances, the government is going to hand over country's hill districts to Santu Larma and his close associates, 'who are the top terrorists' of the areas.
He alleged that the peace agreement with hill people was an unconstitutional decision. On the basis of the agreement, the government is trying to make these areas a province of India.
On the other hand the government is wasting time in the name of projecting data and information about controversial construction work of Tipaimukh Dam. Country's ecology, agriculture, environment and water resources of the north-western regions have already been damaged only because of construction of Farakka Barrage. If the Tipaimukh Dam is constructed this will be a death-trap for the people of this country.
About the security measures on country's borders, he said Indian security forces are keeping close watch on bordering areas. Under the very nose of BDR members, spurious fertilizer and different types of adulterated food items are entering into the country.
Conspiracy against country's independence and sovereignty is going on. In order to resist the conspiracy all the countrymen with the inspiration of the late President Ziaur Rahman should come forward unitedly or else country's overall peace will be hampered, he said.
Taking part in the discussion, Salahudding Kader Chowdhury, a senior BNP leader said if the govt withdraws army camps from CHT without ensuring coexistence between Bangalees and hill people it will bring disaster for the countrymen.