Dipen Dewan’s loyalists have been sidelined in the Rangamati Hill District Council after he resigned as minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs.
Last Thursday afternoon, the ministry announced the names of 15 members of the council, including Rangamati BNP President Dipon Talukdar as chairman. None of Dipen’s loyalists were included in the new council, prompting the former minister to express disappointment.
Manish Dewan, central BNP executive committee assistant secretary for tribal affairs, also voiced his anger over the development. He posted a strong reaction on Facebook after the new council was announced.
Thirty-seven years have passed since 1989, but the Rangamati Hill District Council has not held an election. The council has continued to operate with government-backed leaders being nominated, allegedly in violation of the 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord.
Intumoni Talukdar, general secretary of the Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum’s hill region chapter, alleged that corruption and irregularities were increasing in the hills due to the absence of elected representatives.
“The people of the hills had hoped that, with the current government coming to power, it would take credible steps to hold elections to the hill district councils. But the people are disappointed. Government-backed individuals have been appointed to the council,” he told TIMES of Bangladesh.
He said a 15-member council would not be enough to address the concerns and grievances of the hill communities.
“Under the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord, the council should have 33 members representing all communities,” he said.
After the BNP formed the government on 17 February, Dipen Dewan was appointed minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs but resigned after about two and a half months, citing health reasons. However, after taking charge, he was seen actively participating in various programmes and events.
More than two and a half months after Dipen’s resignation, Saching Prue Jerry took charge as the new minister on Sunday. Dipen’s supporters, however, continue to raise questions about his resignation.
They have questioned whether Dipen was forced to resign or whether he had become a major obstacle to the reconstitution of the hill district councils.
Saiful Islam Shakil, organising secretary of Rangamati BNP and a follower of new Hill District Council chairman Dipon Talukdar, claimed that Dipen lost his ministerial post because of his “excessive interference” over the reconstitution of the hill district councils.
“If Dipon Talukdar had been accepted as chairman, the ministerial post would not have been lost,” he said.
Asked whether Dipen had actually resigned over the issue, new council chairman Dipon Talukdar said, “The ministerial position and the reconstitution of the district council are two separate matters. There is no connection between the two.”
He said the council was formed on the instructions of the prime minister after consultations with leaders at the upazila level. “Those who have been appointed to the council are all senior office-bearers and qualified individuals. What Shakil said was entirely his personal opinion,” he said.
Dipen Dewan claimed that he had not been informed about the reconstitution of the council. “It would have been better if the council had been reconstituted with experienced and qualified people,” he said.
His remarks suggested that he was unhappy with the composition of the new council.
“The councils in the hill region have become hotbeds of corruption. In line with the prime minister’s vision of building a new Bangladesh and the BNP’s 31-point reform agenda, emphasis should have been placed on forming these councils free from corruption. But grassroots leaders of the district BNP who have worked and made sacrifices were not given due recognition. They were not given a place on the district council,” he said.
Asked directly whether he had to resign as minister because of a dispute over the reconstitution of the district councils, Dipen did not give a direct answer. “I have upheld the ideals of Zia and therefore have not compromised with injustice,” he said.
