FROM PARLIAMENT: The House on Thursday passed a bill to set up a new development board for the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) repelling CHT Development Board Ordinance, 1976.

State Minister for CHT Affairs Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing placed the ‘Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board Bill-2014’ before the parliament, which was passed with the voice vote unanimously.

A new development board titled ‘Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board’ will be established under the act with its headquarters in Rangamati district.

The board will have a chairman, a vice chairman and four members and government will appoint them giving preference to the tribal people.

The board will approve, implement and supervise different development projects and scheme for the CHT districts considering population, area and backwardness.

It will also supervise the project implementation works funded by donors and development organizations.

The board will have a separate fund and government will provide maximum Tk 3 crore to the fund.

It will acquire land, if necessary, with the consent of the CHT district council concerned. In that case, the land owners will be given adequate compensation for the loss.

This Act has postponed the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board Ordinance, 1976, which played pivotal role to set the board.

BDST: 1655 HRS JUL 02, 2014