Land issues in CHT must be resolved thru dialogue: Supradeep

CHT Affairs Adviser Supradeep Chakma has said that the long-standing land disputes in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) can only be resolved through dialogue with all stakeholders.

Speaking as the chief guest at a workshop on land management digitalisation for the hill districts, organised by the Rangamati district administration on Saturday, Chakma highlighted the importance of a master plan for land use and zoning, similar to practices in other countries.

“We must move toward digitalised land management, especially zoning maps. The days of measuring land by mere gestures are over,” he said.

The adviser pointed out that much of the landholding in the CHT remains community-based, which often results in multiple sales of the same plot and widespread fraud involving headmen and karbaris.

“Land corruption must be eliminated, and digitalisation is the only solution. Poverty in the CHT is directly linked to land complications. We need an environmentally friendly and transparent land management system,” he added.

Chakma also urged all concerned to ensure a safe and festive environment for the upcoming Durga Puja and the Buddhist religious ceremony Kathin Chibor Daan, directing local administration and police to take effective measures.

During the workshop, Additional Secretary of the Land Ministry Emdadul Haque Chowdhury presented on simplifying land management, while Senior Secretary ASM Saleh Ahmed acknowledged that land administration is the area where citizens face the most harassment.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to building a harassment-free land system.

Later in the afternoon, a views-exchange meeting was held with circle chiefs, district council chairmen, deputy commissioners, headmen, and karbaris from the three hill districts.

Discussions covered issues including reassessment of land development tax, digitisation and archiving of land records in coordination with headmen, training programs, settlement of market fund issues through inter-ministerial meetings, and construction of a new AC Land Office building in Rangamati.

The workshop was chaired by Acting Divisional Commissioner of Chattogram Mohammad Nurullah Noor, and attended by key officials including CHT Development Board Chairman Major General (Retd) Anup Kumar Chakma, Rangamati Hill District Council Chairman Kajal Talukder, Khagrachhari Hill District Council Chairperson Shefalika Tripura, deputy commissioners of the three hill districts, traditional leaders, and journalists.