“Establishing standing peace is only possible through complete implementation of the historic Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) accord. For this reason, everyone from all communities has to come forward and work unitedly. We have to remained alert about to ensure racial harmony and peaceful co-existence amongst the people living in the region”.
Rangamati region commander Brig Gen Md. Iftequr Rahman said this while addressing an event of “Special Boat Race” held at Rangamati Shahid Minar Ghat as the chief guest on Wednesday.
Under overall supervision by Rangamati region, Rangamati zone in association with Rangamati District Sport Association (DSA) organised the programme on the eve of 23rd anniversary of land mark CHT treaty.
Col Imran Ibne Raouf, GS, DGFI, BGB Rangamati sector commander Col AS Foisal, Chairman of Rangamati Hill District Council Brshaketu Chakma, Deputy Commissioner AKM Mamunur Rashid and Superintendent of Police Md. Alamgir Kabir were present as special guests.
Rangamati sadar upazila chairman Shahiduzzaman Mohsin Roman, Rangamati Municipality mayor Akbar Hossain Chowdhury and secretary of DSA Md. Safiul Azam were also present in the programme.
“In our riverine country, we wanted to express the importance of the peace deal through organising the “Boat Race” event on 23rd anniversary of CHT accord in the special month of our victory day”, said the region commander.
“The architect and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Seikh Mujibur Rahman dreamt to build the country as “Sonar Bangla” (Bengal of Gold). We are just going to fulfill his dream step by step”, he added.
“We don’t want to see any more disquiet, conflict and bloodshed. We want to live here peacefully by maintaining racial harmony”, said Commander Iftequr.
Referring to CHT accord he said, Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has sincerity, sympathy and she loves the people living in CHT region particularly the ethnic communities that’s why she made the peace accord for the interest of all.
After signing of the land mark peace treaty, it restored peace in the longstanding disturbance region.
Chairman Brishaketu Chakma said the BNP-Jammat government failed to bring a permanent solution into the CHT longstanding crisis. But when our government came to power in 1996, the accord was signed at the initiative of prime minister Sheikh Hasina for the greater interest of the hilly people.
Now peace is prevailing in the hills and huge development works are being executed in the region. People living in CHT are the beneficiaries of all these, said Brishaketu.
Contestants of boat race male and female were given prizes of Tk 50 thousand each as first prize, Tk 35 thousand as second prize and Tk 25 thousand as third prize.
Kayak and Sampan team competitors both male and female got Tk 10 thousand each as first prize, Tk7,500 as second and Tk 5 thousand as third prizes in the programme.
