EU concerned about CHT peace process

The European Union is concerned about the implementation of Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord, the EU ambassador to Dhaka, William Hanna, told diplomatic correspondents on Wednesday.

'We are more concerned about the peace process' he said at a discussion hosted by Diplomatic Correspondents' Association, Bangladesh at a city hotel

At 'DCAB talk,' as the session was styled, Hanna said, 'For us (EU) the main issue is the implementation of the peace agreement.'

He said the EU would provide 24 million Euro, in addition to current support to Bangladesh, for dealing with poverty, health, education and food security issues in Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Bangladesh government and the leaders of Parpatya Chattagram Janasanghati Samity signed the CHT Peace Accord in 1997.

Hanna, an Irish, hoped that the next general election in Bangladesh would be free, fair and inclusive.

 'How it will be held will be decided by Bangladesh,' he said. 

Asked about the EU's perception about current human rights situation and extrajudicial killing in Bangladesh, the ambassador said that justice and law should be followed.  

Sharing what he experienced during a recent visit to Yaper, a small town of about 1000 people in Belgium, Hanna said, goods from Bangladesh including, its apparel and prawn flooded the shops there.

'This is creating employment in Bangladesh,' he said. 

He said that the EU would continue to support Bangladesh in trade, economic development, and other sectors including, democracy, food safety, health and education.

The ambassador stressed the need for providing technological support to Bangladesh in its struggle against the adverse impacts of climate change.

'Bangladesh is at the frontline facing adverse impacts of climate change. Now, we have to formalise other big players including China and USA,' he said. 

DCAB president Raheed Ejaz chaired the session while its general secretary Abdul Majid gave the welcome address.  Senior EU officials Andrew Barnard, Pierre Buysschaert and Anjum Aziz were present.

Source : New Age