Thirty-two eminent citizens have called for the immediate appointment of a trusted individual from the indigenous communities of the Chittagong Hill Tracts as a full minister to lead the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs. Their joint statement, released to the media on Thursday, followed the resignation of the acting minister, which they said had caused frustration among the hill communities. The signatories noted that the minister, who had been elected with the highest votes from the region, resigned citing personal reasons, raising questions and doubts among local residents.

The statement suggested that some believe the minister may have faced undue obstacles during his tenure, undermining the confidence that hill communities had placed in the new government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The citizens emphasized that the hill peoples have long faced discrimination and that the 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord was a product of cross-party consensus. They also recalled that the accord’s provisions include appointing a minister from indigenous groups.

The signatories urged the prime minister to reconsider the matter promptly and restore confidence by appointing a full minister from the indigenous population to oversee the ministry’s operations.