The Parbattya Chattagram Nagarik Parishad has called for a dawn-to-dusk strike in Bandarban district on Monday, October 13, demanding the cancellation of the existing Hill Tracts Regulation-1900 and the abolition of the “Raja’s Sanad” system in jobs and education, along with eight other demands.
The announcement was made by the Parishad’s central chairman, Kazi Md Mojibur Rahman, during a press conference at a local hotel this morning.
The hartal will not apply to government offices, courts, ambulances, food outlets, pharmacies, law enforcement vehicles, and media vehicles from both print and electronic outlets.
In his statement, Mojibur Rahman emphasised that the Bengali community in the Chittagong Hill Tracts has faced decades of discrimination and denial of their constitutional rights. “These eight demands are crucial for securing the legitimate and constitutional rights of the Bengali community,” he said.
The Parbattya Chattagram Nagarik Parishad’s demands include: Repeal the British-era farcical Chittagong Hill Tracts Regulation-1900 and establish a governance system for the three hill districts in accordance with the Constitution; abolish the “Raja’s Sanad” system in all areas, including land purchase and sale, employment, and education; implement land purchase and management systems in Rangamati, Khagrachhari, and Bandarban similar to the other 61 districts; extend the lease period for market fund plots to 99 years and reinstate suspended bank loans; establish environment-friendly brick kilns, factories, and industries in the three hill districts, including Bandarban, to promote development and create employment opportunities; reinstate the 246 army camps withdrawn earlier for the sake of law and order and public safety in the three hill districts; recover illegal arms, stop extortion, abductions, murders, and rapes, arrest terrorists, and establish permanent peace in the three hill districts; eliminate discrimination in education, healthcare, business, employment, and all other sectors to ensure equal rights and justice.
