Fresh headache appears to be brewing for the north-east States after as the leader of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (United People's Party of the Chittagong Hill Tracts) Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, popularly known as Shantu Larma, on Wednesday announced his plans to launch another round of agitation starting next month after 18 years.

Announcing his plans in Rangamati district of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, adjacent to two north-east States, Mr Larma said he decided to launch “an economic blockade” from January 1.

“We will an launch economic blockade in the region to stop illegal tourism…[and] excessive militarisation in the CHT,” Mr Larma said. A booklet released on the occasion highlighted that tribal lands were distributed among the majority community to change the demography.

“If it continues, then the tribals will disappear from CHT,” Mr Larma said, adding that the government has failed to implement the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord of 1997. The CHT comes within the Chittagong division, the largest of the administrative divisions of Bangladesh.

The Accord, signed between the Bangladesh government and Mr Larma’s PCJSS, secured peace in the restive south-eastern hill division of Bangladesh, adjacent to Tripura and Mizoram. Predominantly Buddhist tribal community of the CHT took up arms against the Bangladesh government in the 1970s following its alleged anti-minority policies.

In 1997, the government of the Awami League led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina signed a peace accord promising settlement of pending disputes, including refugee rehabilitation and land issues. However, PCJSS officials alleged that such disputes were never addressed, and on the contrary, the process of “land acquisition” by the administration continued.

Mr Larma, who signed the agreement as PCJSS president, said the Bangladesh government has not implemented the accord in last 18 years. “Even the Prime Minister has not responded to the report recently submitted by us,” Mr Larma said. As a result, the PCJSS has decided to boycott government institutions, including the judiciary, from January 1.

Such agitations followed by limited escalation in insurgency may foment fresh trouble for India as the CHT shares borders with Tripura and Mizoram. During early years of the movement, when the PCJSS had an armed wing, tribal insurgents often operated within Bangladesh and took shelter in India’s north east or even in West Bengal.

Observers of the movement, however, said the relationship between Bangladesh and India has changed over time and the latter would sternly deny passage, in case of any escalation, to insurgents. However, such an escalation still may trigger “fresh headache” for India in the north east, the observers said.

Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti announces another round of agitation