Peace in the Hill Region Depends on the Bangladesh Army

Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), has said that the key to establishing peace in indigenous or hill regions, in his view, lies in the hands of the army. The hill areas are under the authority of the Bangladesh Army. It is they (the army) who can establish peace. The matter of establishing peace in the hill region and ensuring the rights of the indigenous people is not in the hands of any government of Bangladesh.

On Tuesday (2 December) at noon, a press conference was organized at TIB’s own office located in the MIDAS building in Dhanmondi on the occasion of the publication of a research report titled “Inclusion of Indigenous Communities in Social Safety Programmes: Challenges of Good Governance and Pathways for Overcoming Them.”

The research report was presented at the press conference by Research Fellow Razia Sultana. Among others present were TIB Adviser and Executive Management Professor Sumaiya Khair, Director (Research and Policy) Muhammad Badiuzzaman, and Director (Outreach and Communication) Touhidul Islam.

Addressing the army, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said, “We want to see them (the army) make an effort—let them try to establish peace. If they step away from the ongoing division and governance system and take initiatives based on true commitment and fact- or event-based analysis, then it is possible for them.”

The TIB Executive Director said, “The campaign you are seeing now—I have said several times recently, we have informed the government clearly and in writing—that now is the time for them (the army) to stand before the mirror and examine themselves, to take the test. The Bangladesh Army has played a very proud role in peacekeeping activities in 169 countries around the world. For this, the people of the whole country, including myself, are proud. At this moment, the Bangladesh Army is deployed in at least 10 countries for peacekeeping missions and is contributing significantly, also receiving international recognition.”

Raising the question of why the Bangladesh Army cannot establish peace in an area (the hill region of Bangladesh) that is essentially under its own authority, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said that the army itself should answer that question. It is an opportunity for them to elevate their acceptance, credibility, dignity, and honor at national and international levels.

He said, “They (the army) can establish peace in the hill region not with the help of the government, but through their own initiative.”

The TIB Executive Director said, “If they (the army) have the goodwill, then every clause of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord can be implemented. But no other force or previous government could do it. The most powerful and historically the most authoritarian government was in power in Bangladesh for the last 15 years, and they could not do it. It was not possible for them either.”

Recalling the first speech delivered to the nation by the Chief Adviser of the interim government, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said, “In his first address to the nation, the Chief Adviser used the term ‘indigenous’. After that, the issue of establishing peace in the hill region came up again. But it did not happen. Although that was just an example. Even now, the authority or jurisdiction to establish peace in the hill region does not exist. That authority or capability will come only if the army makes the attempt.”

Expressing trust in the army, he said, “The Bangladesh Army has that capability. If they want, they can truly establish peace in the hill region and set a positive example both at home and abroad.”