Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said on Saturday that the government is working to resolve the challenges identified in implementing the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord.

"We have tried to resolve the simpler issues and explored ways to deal with the more complex ones, with our main focus remaining on finding practical solutions," said Touhid, also the convener of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee.

Since its reconstitution by the interim government, the committee held its first meeting on Saturday at the Parbatya Chattagram Unnayan Board Rest House in the Bhedbhedi area of Rangamati town.

CHT Affairs Adviser Supradip Chakma, who was also present on the occasion, said that the meeting marked an important step towards ensuring peace, security, and development for the people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

He said the government believes that, if all parties work together sincerely, lasting peace and development in the hill tracts are possible.

"The committee will identify the challenges to implementation, make recommendations to relevant ministries and departments, and form sub-committees if needed to move things forward," the adviser added.

Committee members said the interim government has given top priority to the implementation of the CHT Accord. As part of this commitment, the committee was reconstituted on 12 January this year, following a request from the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS).

Saturday’s meeting included in-depth discussions on land disputes and other issues within the framework of the accord.

Leaders present stressed the need to prioritise land-related issues and to implement the core components of the agreement while shaping the committee’s future action plan.

The meeting concluded with a decision to begin the committee’s work immediately and to ensure regular monitoring and review in order to accelerate the implementation process.

Other members of the committee include CHT Regional Council Chairman Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma (Santu Larma); CHT Refugee Taskforce Chairman Sudatta Chakma; CHT Affairs Adviser Supradip Chakma; Joint Secretary of the CHT Affairs Ministry Kankan Chakma; Deputy Secretaries Mangal Chandra Pal and Shamsul Haque; and CHT Regional Council Member Gautam Chakma.