The InternationalCovenant on Civil and Political Rights: A Study on Bangladesh Compliance of Bangladesh and the PCJSS appeared on December 2, 1997. On behalf of the government, the Convenor of the National Committee Hasanat Abdullah and on behalf of the inhabitants of the CHT, the president of the PCJSS Bodhipriya Larma alias Shantu Larma signed the Accord. The Peace Accord responded, though half-heartedly, to the issues of local governance, rehabilitation, land, and general amnesty. The Accord provides for three Hill District Councils, wherein only the permanent residents of the CHT will be members.94 There is a provision for a Regional Council in coordination with these District Councils. The Chairman of this Council shall be elected indirectly by the elected members of the District Councils. The Regional Council shall be formed with 22 members of whom two-thirds will be elected from among the ‘tribals’. The Regional Council is given the responsibility of supervising and coordinating the subjects vested under the Hill District Councils. It is to be noted here that some major subjects like general administration and law and order, education, cultural affairs, information and statistics, population control and family planning that directly relate to autonomy and preserving indigenous culture were not vested under the Hill Districts. However, it was provided that the government and elected representatives shall make efforts to maintain separate cultures and traditions of the tribals, and the government in order to develop the tribal cultural activities at the national level shall provide necessary patronisation and assistance. 73

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