The CHT Peace Accord Implementation Movement raised concerns yesterday about the voting rights of indigenous people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region. The movement stated that many indigenous individuals face challenges in accessing polling centers due to their remote locations, with transportation bans 48 hours before and after voting exacerbating the situation. Security forces’ searches and harassment further deter indigenous voters from casting their ballots.
The movement called on the interim government and Election Commission to ensure indigenous voters’ rights by providing accommodation and food near polling centers, facilitating unrestricted movement for voters in both hill and plains regions, and curbing unnecessary harassment. These demands were highlighted during a press conference at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity, where Professor Dr. Khairul Islam Chowdhury, joint coordinator of the movement, presided over the event. Zakir Hossain, another joint coordinator, delivered the keynote address, with contributions from ALRD executive director Shamsul Huda, writer and journalist Abu Saeed Khan, and indigenous rights activists Mainthin Promila and Dipayan Khisa.