Bangladesh has formed a “National Committee on Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs,” appointing Prime Minister Tarique Rahman as its chairperson.
According to a gazette notification issued by the Cabinet Division (Committee Affairs Branch) on Thursday, the directive comes into force immediately. The gazette was published by authority and signed by order of the President by Additional Secretary (Committee and Finance) Md Humayun Kabir.
Committee composition
- Chairperson: Prime Minister, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
- Member: Minister, Ministry of Finance and Planning
- Member: Minister, Ministry of Home Affairs
- Member: Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Member: Minister, Ministry of Land
- Member: Minister, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs
- Member: Minister, Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs
- Member: Adviser, Ministry of Finance and Planning
- Member: State Minister-1, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Member: State Minister, Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs
- Chief Coordinator: Adviser, Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Division
- Member: Cabinet Secretary
- Member: Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister
- Members: Elected Members of Parliament from the three Hill Tracts districts (3 members)
- Member: Principal Staff Officer, Armed Forces Division (AFD)
- Member: Director General, National Security Intelligence (NSI)
- Member-Secretary: Director General, Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI)
What’s the operational directive?
Under its terms of reference, the high-level committee is tasked with determining priorities on key issues concerning the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) and monitoring inter-agency implementation.
It will define the scope of work and operational domains for security forces, law enforcement agencies, and relevant organisations regarding CHT matters.
Moreover, the committee will finalise the national strategy on Chittagong Hill Tracts affairs and take necessary measures for its execution.
Based on necessity and domain considerations, the committee has been empowered to co-opt chiefs or officers of the armed forces, security forces, and other law enforcement agencies or organisations, as well as any required individual, as members or supporting officers for a specified duration.
Regarding secretariat support, the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) will provide the required manpower and infrastructural facilities.
However, subject to the committee’s decision under the direction of the chairperson, any other intelligence agency, security force, or law enforcement organisation may subsequently perform secretariat duties for a fixed tenure.
