JSS Accuses Bangladesh Government of Stalling Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord Implementation amid Rising Human Rights Violations

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The Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) has criticized the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government for failing to implement the historic 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord during its first four months in office. In a biannual human rights report covering January to June 2026, the organization accused the current administration of continuing the exclusionary policies of its predecessors, opting for coercive measures rather than seeking a sustainable political or peaceful solution to the regional conflict.

The report highlights growing instability in the Hill Tracts, specifically pointing to the controversial management of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs. The PCJSS expressed strong opposition to the appointment of Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, a parliamentarian from outside the region, as state minister for the department. The organization noted that although Dipen Dewan, a local representative from Rangamati, was initially appointed as minister in February, he was forced to resign on June 1 following persistent political pressure. The ministry is currently led by Helal Uddin, a move the PCJSS describes as a direct violation of the CHT Accord’s core intent, which dictates that such positions should be filled by representatives from the indigenous Jumma community.

According to the data compiled by the PCJSS, the human rights situation in the region has deteriorated significantly, with 57 documented incidents of abuse reported between January and June 2026. These events affected at least 154 individuals, resulting in 10 deaths. The report attributes 24 of these incidents directly to security and law enforcement agencies, accounting for at least 45 victims.

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Beyond state actions, the report documents 12 incidents involving armed factions, including the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF), the Marma Liberation Party, and the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF). These groups were linked to activities ranging from extortion and abductions to physical assaults and targeted killings, which claimed two lives and impacted 27 others.

The organization further raised alarms regarding the safety of vulnerable populations, reporting 11 specific incidents of violence against Jumma women and children. These cases form part of a broader pattern of intimidation, including threats, property theft, and forced labor, which the PCJSS claims is being fueled by the state’s failure to uphold the peace treaty and address long-standing grievances in the region.