Foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Sunday said that the government wanted to establish peace in the three districts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts to unlock the region鈥檚 immense potential for development.
鈥業f peace is established, there is vast potential here [Chittagong Hill Tracts]. Although we cannot achieve everything overnight, we want to start the process so that peace can return in the coming days, ensuring coexistence. If we can achieve this, it will significantly advance our progress,鈥� he said.
The adviser made the remarks while addressing a scheme distribution ceremony as the guest of honour at Bandarban hill district council auditorium.
The schemes aim to improve the socio-economic conditions of farmers and women across various upazilas in the district.
Touhid emphasised that social peace and order were essential for any country or society to progress.
鈥楧iversity is our strength, but we can only transform this diversity into real strength if peace prevails in society,鈥� he said, noting that no one would invest in a place lacking peace.
He stressed that while Bangladesh鈥檚 natural resources were limited, its people were its greatest assets.
鈥業n this regard, there is no alternative to education. Over the past 19 years, our education system has suffered due to the blind race for GPA-5, but we have now begun the process of change,鈥� he added.
CHT affairs adviser Supradeep Chakma attended the grant distribution event as the chief guest, while chairman of the Bandarban hill district council Professor Thanjama Lusai presided over the programme.
In his speech, Supradeep Chakma highlighted that out of 400,000 people in Bandarban, 112,000 were living in extreme poverty while in Khagrachari, 108,000 out of 600,000 people faced extreme poverty and in Rangamati, 90,000 out of 550,000 people lived in similar conditions.
He noted that a key reason for reduced budget allocations for the hill districts was the return of unutilised funds.
Deputy commissioner Shamim Ara Rini, superintendent of police Md Shahidullah Kawsar, and other local administration officials were present.
Later, fruit, forest, bamboo, and coffee saplings were distributed among 300 residents of Bandarban Sadar upazila.
Additionally, 116 people received livestock, 30 sewing machines were distributed, 31 mothers received maternity grants, and five organisations received sports equipment.
Organisers said that similar schemes would be implemented across other upazilas in phases to improve the socio-economic conditions of farmers and women in the hill district.
