The roundtable on 'Present Situation in CHT: Our Responsibility', organised by the Bandarban district unit of CHT Bangalee Student Parisad, was attended by professionals including Chittagong University teachers, political leaders and leaders of Bangalee communities.

Pro Vice Chancellor of Chittagong University (CU) Prof Dr Mohammad Samsuddin was the chief guest at the discussion meeting.

The speakers included Associate Professor of CU Anthropology Department Md Ashikur Rahman, CU Political Science Department Chairman Abu Taleb Chowdhury, Dr. Hassan Mohammad, Somoadhikar Andolon President Md Osman Goni, Bandarban district BNP Secretary Advocate Kazi Mohotul Hossain, Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Abdus Salam Azad, Bandarban Press Club President Md. Badsha Miah, Atiqur Rahman from Rangamatia and Bangalee Chhatra Parishad General Secretary Jamsedul Azam.

Yakub Ali Chowdhury, central president of Bangalee Chattra Parishad moderated the discussion held at bandarban Press Club on Monday.

They alleged that Bangalees in the hills enjoy less facilities than the indigenous people but subsequent governments did not take any step to remove the disparity, created by the CHT Peace Accord signed by the then government with PCJSS (Parbattya Chattagran Jana Sanghati Parishad) in 1997.

They alleged that NGOs working in the hills have a hand in fomenting discord between Bangalees and indigenous people.

The demands include deployment of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) to recover illegal arms, setting up of more army camp in border areas and holding of election of the CHT Regional Council and the three district councils.