The InternationalCovenant on Civil and Political Rights: A Study on Bangladesh Compliance
indigenous rights groups have criticized this decision since
they believe Bengali settlers will be able to obtain false
documents detailing ownership of traditionally indigenous
lands. The National Committee for Implementation of the
CHT Peace Accord was also reconstituted, with Deputy
Leader of Parliament Sajeda Chowdhury as chairman. On
December 27, the National Committee for the
Implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accords
suspended the activities of the land commission pending
further review, the government ceded some key functions,
such as primary education, to local authorities, but it did not
cede responsibility for other key functions, such as land use
and natural resources as the accord specified. Law and order
problems and alleged human rights violations continued, as
did dissatisfaction with the implementation of the Peace
Accord.
According to NGO and press reports, there were a number of
skirmishes between Bengali settlers and indigenous
communities in Baghaihat in the CHT on February 19 and 20,
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Indigenous communities in other areas continued to report loss of land to
Bengali Muslims. The government neither cancelled work on national park
projects on land traditionally owned by indigenous communities in the
Moulvibazar and Modhupur forest areas, nor did it undertake any new
activities. In addition indigenous communities, local human rights
organizations, and churches in the area continued to claim the government had
yet to withdraw thousands of false charges the Forestry Department filed
against indigenous residents. See, US Department of States, Annual Human
Rights Reports 2010, Bangladesh Chapter (released on April 8, 2011), available
at: <http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/sca/154478.htm>.
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