Advocacy Group Expresses Concern Over Chittagong Hill Tracts Minister Resignation Amid Stalled Peace Process

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The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Accord Implementation Movement has expressed profound concern following the sudden resignation of Dipen Dewan, the Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs. In a joint statement released on Saturday, rights activist Zakir Hossain and Professor Khairul Islam Chowdhury, both joint coordinators of the movement, warned that the departure has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the future of the CHT peace process.

Minister Dewan submitted his resignation to the Prime Minister’s Office on the first working day following the Eid holidays, less than four months after the government took office. His departure has triggered widespread speculation regarding the internal stability of the ministry, the restructuring of the Hill District Councils, and the intricacies of Rangamati’s internal political landscape.

The joint coordinators emphasized that the lack of transparency surrounding the resignation has exacerbated public anxiety. They noted that despite the government crossing the 100-day milestone, it has yet to present a clear roadmap or demonstrate tangible progress toward the full implementation of the CHT Accord. This perceived inaction has left the nation uncertain about the prospect of establishing lasting peace in the region.

To restore institutional accountability, the movement has called for the immediate reconstitution of the CHT Accord Implementation Monitoring Committee and the reactivation of the CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission. Furthermore, the organization demanded the removal of the State Minister for CHT Affairs, citing actions that are allegedly incompatible with the provisions of the original peace agreement.

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The movement urged the government to move beyond administrative stagnation by declaring a time-bound roadmap and initiating meaningful dialogue with the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti and the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council. The statement underscored that the CHT issue is a national political priority essential to fostering democracy and the pluralistic vision of a “Rainbow Nation.”

The coordinators concluded by calling for an all-party national dialogue to build a consensus on the region’s future, expressing hope that the government will leverage its political leadership to accelerate progress on the ground.