The Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) has called on the government to immediately abolish the National Committee, Executive Committee and Consultative Committee formed on the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), and to take political and democratic initiatives to resolve the region’s political issues through implementation of the CHT Accord.

In a statement issued in September 2026, the PCJSS also called for the reconstitution of the Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee, the Task Force on the Rehabilitation of Returnee Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, the CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission and the Advisory Committee of the Ministry of CHT Affairs in accordance with the Accord.

The organisation further demanded that the government formulate a time-bound action plan, or roadmap, for proper implementation of the CHT Accord.

It also called for the removal of State Minister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin MP from the Ministry of CHT Affairs and demanded that the portfolios of state minister and deputy minister not be retained in the ministry.

The statement was published and circulated by the Information and Publicity Department of the PCJSS from Kalyanpur in Rangamati Hill District in September 2026.

According to the statement, instead of taking steps to formulate an action plan for implementing the CHT Accord, the Executive Committee's terms of reference have incorporated the task of "formulating a national strategy to curb terrorism and separatism and ensure border security" in the region, which the PCJSS said it considers to be a matter of grave concern and motivated move.

“It is through this, it appears that the government views the CHT issue through the lens of so-called security, terrorism, and separatism, rather than recognising it as a political issue. Consequently, this approach will further complicate the situation instead of resolving the CHT problem,” it said.

Moreover, the statement reads that the Executive Committee's terms of reference mention “after review of the existing laws, terms of the Accord and rules and regulations thereof, to bring necessary amendment and reform and formulation of new laws, rules and regulations for ensuring resilient security in CHT.”

“Hence, it can safely be said that such inclusion in the scope of work have been made with a mean and ill view to bringing amendment to the CHT Accord and the laws formulated in accordance with the Accord. At this, it can safely be concluded that the CHT situation will be destined to embrace further complexity and instability.”

A careful examination of the composition, hierarchy and terms of reference of these committees reveals a framework dominated by the military, intelligence agencies and other national security institutions, according to the PCJSS.

“Military and intelligence officials have been given central roles in formulating, coordinating and implementing national policy on the CHT. This arrangement risks reversing the fundamental provisions of the CHT Accord.”

The PCJSS said it counts it to be of highly alarming in estimating the government’s move for resolving the age-old problem like CHT’s by forming up National committee and Executive Committee incorporating the representatives from the armed forces and intelligence agencies such as the GOC of 24th Infantry Division, Armed Forces Division, DGFI, SB, NSI, SSIB, etc.; providing provisions for necessary human resources and structures by the DGFI; and in necessary, entrusting the secretariat to the Intelligence agencies/security forces.

It adds that the Advisor to the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces Division has been appointed as the Chief Coordinator, and the Director General of DGFI as the Member-Secretary of the national committee; similarly, the Director General of DGFI has been named Chief Coordinator, and the Director of SSIB the Member-Secretary, of the executive committee.

PCJSS said it is in view that such involvement of high-ranking military and intelligence officials in those Committees meant for democratic means for resolving the political problem is unprecedented and contravening to the democratic norms.

“There is no doubt that this will not only block the path to resolving the issue through the political and peaceful means ascertained by the CHT Accord but also intensify the militarisation and military rule in the CHT. Through this, the path of repression against the Jumma people of the CHT will be further widened by keeping their long-standing problems unresolved and intensifying militarisation,” the statement reads.

From among the three Committees, the responsibility of the National Committee is to act upon the role of policy determination on CHT affairs while the Executive Committee is to formulate the national strategy and the Consultative Committee is to submit recommendations, according to the PCJSS.

“It is notable that the CHT Regional Council and the three Hill District Councils, the institutions formed under the special administrative system of CHT have not been included in the decision-making process with an ulterior motive. These councils have been placed to play a secondary role merely producing consultancy and recommendations. At this, the role of Jumma people and PCJSS, which is signatory of the Accord on behalf of the Jumma people and other permanent residents of the region, has been completely disregarded and ignored, and condemned the act of which cannot be considered to be politically inclusive.”

Furthermore, the statement reads that as though the Chairmen of the three Hill District Councils have been incorporated in the Consultative Committee, the Chairman of the Regional Council has been side-lined consciously in a process by accommodating representatives, instead of the Chairman of CHT Regional Council. The three Circle Chiefs have also been left excluded from the committee. Besides, after BNP government’s assumption to power, the CHT Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee, Task Force and the Land Commission have not yet been re-organised but the Chairmen of those committees have been placed as the members.

On the other hand, the PCJSS notes that the National Committee and Executive Committee have been entrusted with the role of formulation of national strategy and making decisions. In the matter of determining national strategy and making decisions over three Hill Districts from among the 64 districts of the country, there are the members from almost all the significant capacities sitting in the Cabinet and the top-ranking officials of the administrative organs and intelligence agencies, in the committee.

“Indeed, the initiative undertaken by the BNP government proves that likewise the preceding governments, the present BNP government is all set to execute CHT-problem-resolving policy in a fascist manner through escalation of militarization, in place of peaceful and political means through implementation of the CHT Accord. Whereas, it is an established fact that the CHT problem is a national and political problem, which inevitably necessitates to be resolved by peaceful and political means.”

The PCJSS mentioned the national election held on 12 February. Dipen Dewan who was elected from 299 Rangamati constituency, took oath of office as the Minister for Ministry of CHT Affairs on 17 February 2026, “the whole process of which has been in consonance with the Accord and desirable”. But at the same time, it notes that Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, an MP (Chittagong-5) outside CHT was also appointed as the State Minister of the Ministry of CHT Affairs – “the move of which has not been in line with the terms of the Accord rather contravening to the Accord”.

“Despite strong demands of the civil society from CHT and the country as well, no measure was undertaken on the government side to remove Helal Uddin MP from the Ministry of CHT Affairs. What caused serious concern was that Dipen Dewan MP was made to step down on 1 June 2026 under tremendous pressure – just after 102 days of assuming office as the Minister.”

The PCJSS further said that three months later following removal of Dipen Dewan, Saching Prue Jerry MP of Bandarban constituency was appointed as the Minister of Ministry of CHT Affairs on 21 August 2026. As though Saching Prue Jerry was meant for the Ministry of CHT Affairs but on 27 August 2026, he was entrusted with the responsibilities of looking after the law and order, corruption and development affairs including overall supervision and coordination of government functions of Cox’s Bazar district while the State Minister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin was awarded with all the three Hill Districts of CHT. “It means that though Saching Prue Jerry was appointed as the Minister of Ministry of CHT Affairs, his appointment is for name sake, since, Helal Uddin MP was entrusted with the sole responsibility of dealing with the administration, law and order and development including supervision and coordination of all the government functions in CHT.”

It notes that there is a provision in the Accord by merit of which the CHT Regional Council shall be the highest administrative body. “The present government has not yet paced forward to put the CHT Regional Council in place with effect. Rather, the government is being noticed aptly to by-pass the CHT Regional Council in various aspects. For instance, as the flood situation worsened all the three hill districts, Anindya Islam Amit MP (Jessore-3), State Minister, Ministry of Power and Energy, was assigned to supervise the relief operation in the flood-affected areas of CHT. Whereas, CHT Regional Council, the highest administrative organ, was not included in the operation.”