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Fresh move of Land Commission’s chairman to start illegal and one-sided hearing of land dispute cases in CHT
It is learnt from a letter sent to Deputy Commissions of three hill districts of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) from Registrar of CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission that the Commission is going to start hearing of land dispute cases from 28 February 2012 at its head office in Khagarchari.
It is worth mentioning that the CHT Accord Implementation Committee in its 3rd meeting held in Khagrachari on 26 December 2010 postponed all activities of land commission including hearing of land dispute cases until and unless amendment of provisions of the CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission Act 2001 contradictory to the CHT Accord is made.
PCJSS, in a press release signed by its assistant information and publicity secretary Sajib Chakma on 26 February 2012, protested against the one-sided and illegal initiative to start hearing of land dispute cases by chairman of CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission, violating the decision of the CHT Accord Implementation Committee and before amendment of the CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission Act 2001. PCJSS opined that starting of hearing of land dispute cases is illegal and ill-motivated and so it would create difficulties in the CHT and also hinder toward amendment of CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission Act 2001.
Hence, PCJSS urged to stop this one-sided and ill-motivated hearing of land dispute cases by the chairman of Land Commission. Otherwise, chairman of the Land Commission will be responsible for any unwanted situation in the CHT.
Please find letter of Land Commission for hearing of land dispute cases and PCJSS press release on this issue (both in Bangla).
It is mentionable that after assuming state power, the grand alliance government appointed retired Justice Khademul Islam Chowdhury as the chairman of the Land Commission in July 2009. After assuming in the office, Mr. Chowdhury started in a dramatic fashion. He undertook a lightning tour of the three hill districts soon after assuming in the office and convened meetings in three hill districts for exchange of views. He used the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of the three hill district to issue letter calling upon the members to attend such opinion-sharing meeting which was totally irregular, as DCs are nobody of the Commission. The Land Commission Act provides that the secretary of the Commission shall convene the Land Commission meeting.
Secondly without convening any formal meeting of the Commission, the chairman unilaterally declared to conduct land survey in the CHT, though CHT Accord stipulates to conduct land survey in the CHT after completing the rehabilitation works and resolution of land diputes. Despite the huge protest from the all sections of the citizens including CHTRC and PCJSS and also three circle chiefs, the Chairman of the Commission continues his unilateral and controversial activities. In mid-July 2010 the secretary of Land Commission issued a notice to the CHT Affairs Ministry and Land Ministry to conduct cadastral survey in CHT soon; otherwise the ministries would be charged non-compliance with court order.
Even without decision of the Land Commission, Khademul Islam Chowdhury one-sidedly declared to start hearing to settle land disputes. He took up programme, in spite of protests by PCJSS and other organizations including civil society committee, to inaugurate hearing on cases of land disputes in Khagrachari on 27 December 2010. In a meeting held on 26 December 2010 in Khagrachari circuit house, CHT Accord Implementation Committee announced postponement of hearing on cases of land disputes at Khagrachari.
Kirkenes, Norway 9 February 2012. In a keynote speech delivered in Kirkenes, Norway, Professor Anaya underlined the key developments that have taken place in recent decades aimed at safeguarding the rights of indigenous peoples, while calling for a new model of development in which indigenous peoples have the opportunity to be genuine partners, especially in the context of natural resource extraction taking place in or near their traditional territories.
