Rangamati, Oct 24 (V7N) – The Parbatya Chattogram Nagorik Parishad organized a human chain and protest rally in Baghaichhari upazila of Rangamati district on Thursday afternoon, condemning what they described as ethnic discrimination in various development projects under the district council.

The demonstration took place in front of the upazila parishad premises, where more than 300 people from different professions and communities joined the protest. Participants alleged that following the appointment of District Council Member Debprasad Dewan for Baghaichhari upazila, development allocations worth several crores of taka were distributed exclusively among one ethnic group, depriving others of government benefits.

Speakers at the rally claimed that in the hill tracts, Bengali communities have long been marginalized in the distribution of development funds managed by the district council, development board, and upazila administration. They alleged that nearly all allocations under Debprasad Dewan’s authority are being implemented in areas predominantly inhabited by hill communities, leaving Bengali residents discriminated against.

The protesters pointed to a specific example — a coffee and cashew project involving 302 beneficiaries with a budget of 290 million taka — which they claimed was allotted solely to members of the hill community. They also criticized the district council for approving a 3 million taka budget for the Baghaichhari Hill Employees Development Forum without clear justification.

The demonstrators issued a 72-hour ultimatum demanding the cancellation of the project and called for equal distribution of government allocations among all ethnic communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. They warned that if their demands are not met, District Council Member Debprasad Dewan will be declared unwelcome in Baghaichhari.

Community leaders emphasized that in an inclusive Bangladesh, no citizen should face discrimination based on ethnicity and urged authorities to ensure transparency, equity, and accountability in all development activities across the region.

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