The 1997 CHT Peace Accord: A Promise Betrayed

The Broken Promises of the CHT Peace Accord

Introduction

On December 2, 1997, the Government of Bangladesh and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) signed the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord. It was hailed as a “historic breakthrough” that would end two decades of conflict between the state and Indigenous Jumma peoples.

For the Jumma, who had endured displacement, militarization, and systematic settlement programs, the Accord sparked hope of recognition, autonomy, and dignity. But over 25 years later, those promises remain largely unfulfilled. Instead of peace, many feel the Accord has become a symbol of betrayal.

What the Accord Promised

The Peace Accord was built around several key commitments:

Regional Autonomy

• Creation of a Regional Council with authority over land, administration, and development.
• Strengthening of three Hill District Councils to allow self-governance.

Land Rights and Dispute Resolution

• Establishment of a Land Commission to resolve land disputes caused by state-sponsored Bengali settlement and the Kaptai Dam displacement.

Demilitarization

• Gradual withdrawal of temporary military camps from the CHT.
• Return of lands occupied by the military and settlers to rightful owners.

Rehabilitation of Displaced People

• Safe return of refugees from India and internally displaced families.

Recognition of Jumma Identity

• Indirectly promised cultural and political acknowledgment of Indigenous peoples within a pluralistic Bangladesh.

What Actually Happened

Despite initial celebrations, the Accord quickly stalled in implementation:

Regional and District Councils

Councils exist only on paper with limited or no real power. Decision-making is still dominated by Dhaka-appointed administrators.

Land Commission Paralysis

The Land Commission was formed but made almost no progress due to lack of rules, political pressure, and resistance from settlers and local elites. Land grabbing continues.

Militarization Remains

Although some camps were withdrawn, the CHT is still one of the most militarized regions in Bangladesh. New camps and surveillance posts have even been added in some areas.

Bengali Settlement Continues

State-backed migration of Bengali settlers has not been reversed. In many cases, settlers retain control of seized Indigenous land.

Displaced Families Unsettled

Thousands of Jumma families who lost land to the Kaptai Dam or settlers have not been adequately rehabilitated. Many remain landless or marginalized.

Identity Denied

The Constitution of Bangladesh still refuses to recognize the Jumma as “Indigenous,” labeling them instead as “tribal” or “ethnic minorities.” This denies them international legal protections.

Why the Jumma Call It a Betrayal

For many Jumma people, the Peace Accord has functioned less as a roadmap for peace and more as a political instrument:

• It pacified international criticism without fundamentally changing state policy.
• It split Indigenous politics by creating rifts between groups that accepted the Accord (PCJSS) and those who rejected it (UPDF).
• It left the community disillusioned — they laid down arms in good faith, but the state did not honor its commitments.

In effect, the Accord neutralized Jumma armed resistance while allowing the structures of militarization, settlement, and cultural erasure to continue.

The Present Reality

Today, the CHT is still marked by:

• Land disputes where settlers, backed by military and political influence, hold Indigenous land.
• Periodic violence and communal attacks, often targeting villages and temples.
• Youth frustration as promises of self-rule and recognition remain broken.

The Peace Accord, rather than solving the crisis, has become a reminder of broken promises.

Conclusion

The 1997 CHT Peace Accord could have been a foundation for justice and reconciliation. Instead, its half-hearted implementation has deepened mistrust.

For the Jumma people, it stands as proof that peace without justice is not peace at all. Until the Accord’s core promises — land rights, demilitarization, and recognition — are genuinely implemented, the dream of dignity and autonomy in the Chittagong Hill Tracts will remain unfulfilled.