Rangamati, Mar 29 (V7N)– Residents of Rangamati have staged a protest against what they describe as "unprecedented discrimination" by the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs in the distribution of government-allocated food grains. The protesters allege that the distribution favors specific individuals and groups, excluding the region's most vulnerable populations.

"People from all walks of life in Rangamati have expressed their protest against the unprecedented discrimination of the Ministry of Hill Tracts in the distribution of crores of taka allocated by the government for the upliftment of the poor people in the hills," a local community leader reported.

The protest, which included the burning of an effigy of Su-Pradeep Chakma, Advisor to the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, highlighted the growing discontent over the allocation process.

"Protesting the discrimination created in the name of food grain allocation in the hills, conscious students and the public have protested in the hill town of Rangamati by burning an effigy of Su-Pradeep Chakma, Advisor to the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, wearing a garland of shoes and burning tires," a local protest organizer confirmed.

A protest march, involving numerous participants, took place through the streets of Rangamati, culminating in the burning of the effigy.

"On Saturday (March 29) afternoon, a protest march began from the municipal square in Rangamati city, chanting various slogans against Advisor Su-Pradeep Chakma, and circled the city's main road before ending near the traffic box in Banarupa. Later, an effigy of Su-Pradeep Chakma, the controversial advisor to the Ministry of Hill Regions, wearing a garland of shoes, was set on fire," a protest observer reported.

Protesters alleged that Advisor Su-Pradeep Chakma has allocated resources to his relatives, fugitive Awami League leaders, and regional party supporters, while neglecting the needs of the broader community.

"Earlier, in a brief rally, speakers said that the allocation of about 80 million taka received by the government for the upliftment of the people of the hills, Su-Pradeep Chakma, the advisor to the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, has allocated it in the names of his own relatives and fugitive Awami League leaders, as well as regional party terrorists in the hills and their sponsors. The protesters alleged that during the tenure of the current government, which is committed to eliminating discrimination, an advisor to the government is creating new discrimination in the hills," a protest spokesperson stated.

They also criticized the allocation as a violation of constitutional principles of equality.

"The speakers said that the recent budget allocation by the Chittagong Hill Tracts Ministry, while discriminating against the people of the hills, is a clear violation of the principle of equality of the Constitution. A review of the recent budget allocation list published by the Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Ministry makes it clear that this allocation process is purposeful, biased and focused on protecting the interests of a particular community. State resources are not for any specific community, it is an equal right of all citizens. However, the communal advisor to the Hill Tracts Ministry, Su-Pradeep Chakma, has made unilateral allocations ignoring the real picture and needs of the population of the hill region, which is extremely discriminatory," a protest speaker detailed.

The protesters threatened further action if the allocation is not revised.

"The speakers also threatened to stop the convoy of vehicles if the advisor arrives in Rangamati in the future due to his discriminatory behavior. The allocation of Chakma mark by the Ministry of Hill Tracts should be immediately canceled and all hill-Bengali ethnic groups should be brought under the allocation in equal proportion to the population. Otherwise, Hill Tracts Advisor Su-Pradeep Chakma will be declared unwanted in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and will not be allowed to enter anywhere in the Hill Tracts. The ever-awakened students and public against discrimination will resist wherever they come to the Chittagong Hill Tracts," a protest organizer stated.

Local political leaders from BNP and Jamaat have echoed the allegations of ethnic discrimination.

"Meanwhile, Rangamati district BNP and Jamaat leaders have alleged that the Hill Department is creating new ethnic discrimination in the hills. District BNP President Dipan Talukder Dipu and Rangamati district Jamaat Ameer Abdul Alim both said that in the current context, the allocation given by the Hill Ministry in the hill areas; is not only discrimination but also a kind of incitement to create conflict. About 13 ethnic groups living in the area have been deprived by providing allocation through immature and nepotism. Currently, on the eve of the festival in the hills, such discriminatory allocation has created anger among the ethnic groups living in the area and it will be difficult to maintain communal harmony, the district Jamaat Ameer also commented," a local political analyst confirmed.

END/AMR/RH/