Rehabilitation of 40000 Bangalee families in CHT demanded

KHAGRACHHARI, Jan 12: Leaders of the Bangalee Krishak Sramik Kalyan Parishad demanded of the government to rehabilitate nearly 40,000 Bangalee families permanently in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, reports UNB.

Thousands of Bangalees of "Guchchha Grams" (cluster villages) in the CHT, rehabilitated temporarily in the 80's, are now very much worried about their existence following peace accord, they said at a press conference at the local press club on Sunday.

Parishad general secretary Abdul Awal read out a written statement at the press conference. Its vice-president AKM Shahidul Islam, Mahbubur Rahman and Abdul Mazid were also present.

The Parishad leaders sought intervention of the ruling and opposition party leaders in protecting the fundamental rights of the Bangalees living in the "Guchchha Grams".

They also demanded of the government to meet their seven-point charter of demand, including rehabilitation with adequate compensation, exemption of loans and granting fresh long-term loans to the inhabitants of "Guchchha Grams".