Within 10/12 days, the mountain is heated again. The situation in the Chattogram Hill Tracts is becoming fragile. There is increasing ethnic violence, mistrust and hatred. What is the cause of frequent unrest and tension in the mountains? Who is responsible for these misdeeds? Knowing the answers to these questions is very important to tackle serious problems like racial resentment.

In particular, 27 years after the signing of the peace agreement, the resurgence of conflict and tension in the mountains is a matter of concern. A peace treaty was signed with an armed group. There are now 5/6 armed groups voicing various demands. What is more serious is that trivial or ordinary incidents, which can be settled through arbitration or litigation, are also taking the form of horrific group or communal riots.

Police and local sources said that soon after the incident, agitated people from both sides split into factions and started rehearsing at the headquarters. Aggressive slogans were chanted by both sides. In order to pacify the agitated crowd on both sides, many times government officials were also attacked. Section 144 was finally issued in all cases. After the incident, the situation was very tense for a few days. Common people on both sides and their houses and businesses are affected.

On October 1, the administration issued Section 144 after a teacher was beaten to death on charges of rape in the hill district of Khagrachari when tension broke out between the hills and the Bengalis. Army and police patrols have been strengthened to control the situation. After this incident, Pahari and Bengalis took a position facing each other at Khagrachari Sadar. Both sides took out separate processions. A few shops in Sadar's Mahajanpara were also vandalized. Apart from this, a house was set on fire.

Earlier on September 18, after a youth was beaten to death on the charge of stealing a motorcycle, there was a clash between the Pahari-Bengali communities. Then the deceased Mamun's wife filed a murder case against the absconding three Awami League leaders. Later Pahari-Bengali conflict spread around Mamun's death. On September 19, shops were set on fire at Larma Square in Dighinala. A person named Dhananjay Chakma died in the clash at Dighinala. On the night of September 19, two people, Rubel Tripura and Junan Chakma, were killed in the firing by law and order forces in Khagrachari Sadar. Due to this incident on September 20, there was a clash in Rangamati. There, shops and houses were set on fire. A person named Anik Kumar Chakma died. Section 144 was imposed in Rangamati and Khagrachari on September 20. It was later withdrawn. Five cases were filed in two districts in these incidents.

It needs to be noted that ethnic discontent and communal riots are not a matter of solution only through force. If there are seeds of violence, mistrust and hatred in the society, then it will grow. While it is possible for the law and order forces to establish peace temporarily, it is not possible to uproot the seeds of trouble. As a result, there are seeds of problems, so many unpleasant things are happening in the mountains.

The question is, who is responsible for these incidents and what are the reasons? It is necessary to know in order to solve the problem. We know that the Chittagong Hill Tracts were on an armed path after independence. Through the peace agreement in 1997, it progressed in a systematic way. It is definitely a political success. But peace and harmony are not established overnight when agreements are executed. For this, it is necessary to take appropriate initiatives, through which violence and mistrust among people will be reduced and stability will come.

The task of establishing communal harmony in the hills is neglected. As a result of the agreement, Pahari and Bengali leaders are intoxicated with various titles. No one came forward to establish social peace and harmony. All are fighting against each other from group and party political positions. As a result, the larger society is also divided. In the name of party, in the name of clan, in the name of nation, they do not retreat from facing each other because this division between them has not been removed.

The surprising thing is that despite the violence and communal riots in the hills, the political leaders could not hold hands for a single alliance rally. There was no all-party harmony march or march. Groups and groups live there with suspicion and mistrust of each other.

However, after the peace treaty, along with various political changes, social and cultural changes were also necessary. There was a need to organize dialogue between groups and parties. There was also a need for mutual understanding and exchange. Then the distance between the groups could decrease by reducing the violence and hatred.

It was the responsibility of political leaders, civil society and citizens society to create an environment of social and communal harmony and peaceful coexistence. It is depressingly noticeable that they are all so engrossed in the petty political interests of their respective groups and factions that no thought or effort for the overall welfare and peace of the society is seen from them at all. Walls of divisiveness have grown and often incidents of beatings or communal riots have taken place. As a result of which there is a huge loss of life and property of common people. And tension and violence are spreading in the hills. Common people's lives and livelihoods are being affected as a whole.

Promulgation of Section 144 after riots or taking the stand of law and order forces temporarily calms the situation, but it is not a permanent solution. It is not the case that after a few days there will be unrest and the government forces will go and establish peace will come rather, the whole matter is a matter of decision by the political leadership and depends on the attitude of the peaceful position of all socially. If the people of the society do not protect their lives and property by maintaining peace for their own sake, then it is not possible for any force to establish lasting peace. Permanent peace has to be established by those who live there permanently.

Even after so many years of peace agreement, the creation of communal riots and communal tensions in the hills cannot be accepted in any way. After a few days, the warlike behavior of the two sides is also not desirable. In particular, the deaths of civilians, damage to citizens' homes and shops are completely unacceptable. No sane person can accept the picture of medieval riots in a free country. Political and social leadership must come forward to break the walls of violence and mistrust and create an atmosphere of peaceful coexistence with all. Otherwise, if the social and political leadership spreads the poison of violence and hatred for the interests of small groups and parties, then the green mountain of peace will be burnt to ashes by mutual conflicts and conflicts, which will not be good and beneficial for anyone.

Dr. Mahfuz Parvez: Associate Editor, Barta24.com; Professor and Chairman, Department of Political Science, Chattogram University and Executive Director, Chattogram Center for Regional Studies, Bangladesh (CCRSBD).

There is no need to say more about this contrast. In his farewell address to the UN General Assembly last week, US President Joe Biden spoke proudly of how he had defended Ukraine and its people against Russian aggression. But he took a different track when it came to the Middle East.

They were cast as 'victims' without showing any concern for the plight of the Palestinian people under Israeli aggression and oppression. Biden urged the world to help Ukraine win the war, saying the United States would not look to a just and lasting peace based on the UN Charter.

Biden focused on the "horror of October 7th" and hostages held by Hamas in the Middle East context, though he said little about the death and destruction wrought by Israel's year-long war in Gaza. Calls for adherence to the UN Charter have not been voiced despite Israel's countless transgressions. Biden cited the need for a cease-fire in Gaza and called for a full-scale war to be avoided in the region. But those words ring hollow given the role his administration has played over the past few months.

This role is evident from the multiple US vetoes of cease-fire resolutions at the UN Security Council and Israel's continued armed aggression. In the past year, Washington has provided Israel with more than 12 billion dollars in arms and deployed additional military forces to the region to 'protect Israel'. Last week, Israel allocated an additional 8.7 billion dollars in US military aid. Over the past 11 months, the Biden administration has said little about the more than 41,000 innocent Palestinians killed so far by Israeli military aggression and bombing. The US has not even condemned repeated Israeli attacks on hospitals and medical personnel. The country's government spokesmen are often confused when asked by the media about such blatant violations of international humanitarian law.

This US position has given Israel license to defy UNSC calls for a ceasefire to allow atrocities, ethnic cleansing and aid to Gaza. It is also a violation of the judgment of the International Court of Justice. This US role not only encouraged Israel to continue its genocidal war, but also to launch crackdowns on the occupied West Bank, kill Hamas and Hezbollah commanders in third countries, and intensify attacks on Lebanon. The rest of the states, with the exception of Western countries like the Andes and Norway, have shown complete disregard for international law and basic human rights in their blind support for Israel. Western nations have condemned Russia's military actions and targeting of civilians in Ukraine, but have refused to apply the same policy to Gaza. They never asked if there was any justification for targeting civilians, killing children, bombing hospitals, displacing people and starving the population in Gaza.

On the contrary, they stand up for Israel's right to self-defense and allow Tel Aviv to violate every international law and order, commit war crimes, usurp state sovereignty, and attempt to destroy a nation. This, far from ensuring Israel's security, only increases the number of its enemies and strengthens resistance to the occupation over time.

Arab states have also not glorified themselves by failing to do anything to stop Israel from continuing its genocidal war. There has been a lot of criticism. But their (the Arab states') inaction has helped Israel continue its military aggression.

The Middle East stands at a dangerous crossroads. Israeli tensions have pushed the region to the brink of full-scale conflict. For the brave Palestinian people, this is the darkest time in their oppressed history. But the past proves that their will to resist will challenge this ongoing brutality.

When Israel detonated pagers in Lebanon, not a murmur was heard from Washington and many Western capitals. If any other country had done it, the West would have condemned it as a terrorist attack. Israel has waged a hellish campaign across the West Bank, resulting in the deaths of many civilians and the complete destruction of infrastructure.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has exploited the outgoing President Biden administration's 'lame-duck phase' during the US election season to act with impunity and ignore Washington's warnings about the dangers of regional war. Netanyahu also reckons that the US is unwilling to use its leverage (suspension of arms deliveries) to restrain Tel Aviv, especially as the US continues to reiterate its support for Israel's 'right to unconditional self-defence'.

The US's delayed efforts to seek a cease-fire and hostage agreement without putting pressure on Israel and pursuing peace are nothing more than giving enough time to wage a brutal war. Netanyahu has shown no interest in a cease-fire or peace deal because his political survival depends on continuing the war. There are allegations of corruption against him. Netanyahu, a humanitarian, rejected international calls for a ceasefire in his address to the UN General Assembly.

Some officials in the Biden administration could be said to be taking the argument to a 'new level' over Israel's de-escalation of the war. Following this, Tel Aviv carried out devastating airstrikes in Lebanon that killed more than 700 people, the largest in decades. Israel's aggression has also raised fears of a larger multi-front war that could push the entire region to the brink of full-scale conflict.

Iran has reached a critical position by losing its close ally Hezbollah's top leader Hassan Nasrullah in the Israeli attack. So far, Tehran has dealt with moderation. President Massoud Pezeshkian has avoided Israeli baiting to go to war. He did not order a retaliatory response to Israel's killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Iranian soil. While attending the UN General Assembly in New York, Pezeshkian said that Israel was trying to drag his country into a larger war that it had no desire for. Israel has already ordered its troops to prepare for a ground attack on Lebanon, threatening Iran if they cross another red line.

Although the UN General Assembly has seen international support for the Palestinians and strong condemnation of Israel from leaders of the Global South, it has highlighted the hypocrisy and duplicity practiced by Western governments. Spain, Ireland.

Author: Former High Commissioner of Pakistan and Political Scientist in United States, United Kingdom and United Nations

Translated from Don: Ashraful Islam

Ashwin 12^th, 27th September 2024 Teesta river has suddenly experienced high water pressure. An attempt has been made to reduce the water pressure by opening 44 sluices of Teesta Barrage at Dalia Point in Lalmonirhat. As a result, many houses and cultivated lands on both sides of Teesta river have been submerged. The fish in the pond has been washed away. When the sluice is opened, the flood starts suddenly and when it is closed, the mountain sand that comes with the water accumulates and fills the riverbed on one side.

On the other hand, new coarse sand is piled up on large pastures and cultivated land and becomes unsuitable for cultivation. It also becomes difficult to grow rabies there. The sandy riverbanks and wastelands that span the horizon lie uncultivated for years. Marginal farmers find ways to save their lives by 'sandsurfing' on the sand. Although they are listed among the poorest people in our country, there has been no positive change in their quality of life for ages.

Such floods witness many tragic events every year in the lives of the people along the river banks. Pictures are taken, videos are made, pictures of their plight are broadcast on TV, YouTube. The people of the whole country and the foreigners also expressed the expression of 'eating' after seeing those pictures. Government employees calculate the damage and write it down. Political leaders assured that the Teesta Master Plan is coming ahead. Wait a little longer.

But the wait does not want to end. Neighboring India's close friends came to power three times. Yet many attempts at lobbying for the grand scheme of Teesta revival have not seen the light of day. The people of Tistapar, after passing the day with much reassurance, have finally sunk into utter despair.

Already, a new Bangladesh has emerged with the efforts of the youth. An interim government was formed as a result of the July-August 2024 agitation. Within a week of the formation of this government, a catastrophic flood occurred in the eastern districts of the country due to the upstream from across the border. Although attempts are made to dry the wounds, it is not easy to heal for the marginal farmers.

In the meantime, the roads and streets of the big cities of the country, the crops of the arable land all over the country are drowning again and again due to heavy rains. Aman rice seedlings could not be planted in many districts due to rotting of seed bed due to frequent floods. Relying only on the northern part of the country, the loss of Aman is calculated. Due to artificial flooding in the northern rivers, Garmil has started as Aman cultivation.

This time, Ashwin has called the river Teesta again. At the same time, 44 sluices of the country's largest Teesta barrage located at Hatibandha have been opened due to increased water pressure. Due to the opening of 44 gates of Teesta barrage, the water of the river rose suddenly and the rice seedlings of thousands of acres of land were submerged.

Due to continuous rains and upstream floods, some low-lying areas besides the grasslands of Rangpur, Nilphamari, Kurigram and Lalmonirhat have been inundated. In the last two days, due to the increase in water, rural roads in the lower areas, farmers' fields of various crops including rice, almonds, brinjal, pepper have been submerged. According to a daily newspaper, "Farmer Rafiqul Islam (50), a resident of Kalmati in Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila, said that he could not light the stove because of rising water in his house for the last two days. So I am passing the day without eating. Cooking once a day is difficult. Mujibur Rahman (52), a resident of the river bank of the same area, said that the Teesta water has been increasing for the past two days. Night sleep is lost to the horrible sound of water. Last night, a house in his neighbor's house was washed away by the river. Currently, several houses are at risk of demolition. Afzal Hossain (55), a resident of Govardhan area of Mahishkhocha union of Aditmari upazila, said how many people have come and promised to free the Teesta from the scourge in the last 15 years. But not implemented. Now when the Teesta water rises, it enters our area.”

At this time, the mountain sand is brought by the upstream water. Fertile land sinks into sand. In those lands, new fodder falls. Keep away from the crops, grass does not grow in those lands.

According to an observation, India is causing frequent floods by releasing water again and again. Not even the Ashwin flood - there was a flood last year in the month of Chaitra.

The regional geopolitical dominance between China and India has become very clear when long-held hopes for a grand plan to revive the Teesta have come to light in the light of the experience of China's Huangho River flood control project on a scientific basis.

Although Bangladesh has suffered extreme losses, it is quite helpless in the battle of geopolitics. Teesta is an international river. On top of which there are many hydropower projects in the Sikkim and Assam regions of India. There is also Mahananda

An artificial channel to divert the Teesta water unilaterally to protect the navigability of Kolkata port by connecting with Hooghly.

When the upstream of the Teesta is called flood, heavy rains become inundated, only then, unable to handle the excess water pressure, the Ghazaldoba sluices are released towards Bangladesh and this brings disaster to the people of our country again and again!

This is Teesta disaster for us. It has become a matter of life and death for crores of people of Tistapar.

Adviser on Environment, Forests and Climate Change Syeda Rizwana Hasan is very active in trying to find an acceptable solution. But recently Sheikh Hasina has fled to India and is staying which is acting as a major factor in cooling the relations between the two countries. Will it be possible to make any effective meeting on Teesta at such an embarrassing time?

Right now the eyes of the world community are towards Bangladesh. The development philosophy of Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus has so far attracted more attention to the welfare of the poor countries of the world than it has been useful in the socio-economic development of Bangladesh. But in order to initiate the socio-economic development and reform of the political outlook of Bangladesh at the same time, the context that needs to be created requires the generosity of the neighboring countries, especially India. But instead of doing that, India seems to be pushing the elements to create new problems in various directions.

In this case, how to solve the Teesta water problem? So what I can do with my share of Teesta without being a face to anyone is now a matter to be seen. Because, during the rainy season, the flood released from the water tank, the flood in Ashwin, the flood in Chaitra is not bearable anymore.

Every year, floods in the north of the country, floods in the west, floods in the east - when will it be our destiny to be swept away by the floods? Sand surfing on the banks of the Teesta river in winter and summer and how long to return home dusty.

The victims are there? We do not want to hear and tolerate any new discrimination regarding the fair share of the international river Teesta water. In the days to come, we never want to waste time 'sand surfing' on the dusty sands of Teesta. With the constructive participation of the young generation, there should be an immediate end to water discrimination in all rivers of the country, including the international river Teesta.

*The author is a professor of social work department and former dean of social science faculty of Rajshahi University. E-mail: [email protected]

Pranab Vardhan in his article entitled 'United States of the Past' reminds us that the mantra of 'one country, one everything' by global rulers will in the long run harm the unity of the country. All these mantras, such as opposition-free 'one country, one party' or 'one country, one leader' are actually attempts to establish a dictatorship full of the stench of dictatorship.

Similarly, dictatorship seizes everything including power at one time by shouting 'my, my'. In the democratic sphere, monopolistic authority is gradually expanded by hypnotizing the people. Dictatorship, autocracy, fascism gradually grew in the arena of democracy. Even so, a democratically elected government, demanding democratic institutions, gradually axed all power. History is witness to many such examples. They are absolutely unsustainable and terrifying for a diverse democratic country.

It is really difficult and impossible in the social and political system to take everything under the control of 'me and us'. Let's take South Asia as an example. There are multiple divisions and diversities. Although division and diversity differ from country to country, division and diversity are realities though it is not really possible to grab everything as 'mine and us'. The consequences for those who wanted to be or became authoritarian by establishing occupation were dire and deadly. And those who tolerate division and accept diversity and bring everyone together are relatively successful.

Attempts to impose a single authority on the political trajectory of South Asian countries with the slogan of 'me and us' have failed time and again. Divided and diverse South Asia is a pluralistic region. Instead of authoritarianism and fascism, coordination and inclusiveness is the appropriate approach. Therefore, it is better for South Asian countries to follow such liberal and Universalist ideology, through which the ideology of the majority or majority-centric ideology can be prevented from becoming authoritarian and fascist.

Researcher Neeti Nair's book Heart Sentiments discusses these issues in detail. The book is enriched by the debates of different opinions and paths during the constitution making of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, various relevant legal and court-centered discourses. In a deftly styled yet informative manner, the author presents a new interpretation of secularism whose main point is that the state's state behavior and religion should not draw a wall between the two, nor is it sufficient to draw a distinction. There is a need to go back to the tradition of coexistence and harmony between different religious communities (and certainly different ideological groups). Being secular means fearlessly belonging to one's community and nation. At the same time to respect and recognize the existence and position of other communities and nations. This attitude must be applied to religion and community as well as politics.

But the reality is definitely different. Despite various efforts, the divisions and conflicts of the society and the conflicts in the political sphere have not been resolved. The tendency of the majority to become authoritarian and fascist could not be completely curbed. The behavior of the state has not been neutral, pluralistic and co-ordinated. During the crisis, the bloodshed of ideological battles, leadership duels and extreme moments of ethnic riots were visible in the countries of South Asia. The structure of governance and the walls of administration have been broken down by conflict and conflict. The terrible riots that broke out in India in the months following the demolition of the Babri Mosque exposed administrative and state failure. Dissidents and minorities are constantly attacked there. There has been a lot of bloodshed during the change of government in Sri Lanka. The struggle to overthrow the government in Bangladesh took the form of a bloody battlefield from the student movement. Opponents and opponents are brutally persecuted in Pakistan.

As a result, the ideal of coexistence is affected in South Asia, which is undergoing division and diversity. The integrated and collective political trajectory is more tragic and bloody. India's democratic and secular ideology has to shed tears every day to assert its helplessness in the face of religious authoritarianism. In Pakistan, the people have been yearning for democracy against party and military authoritarianism. In Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Maldives, there is a fierce exhibition of factional competition, with which regional and international powers are intermingled.

In such a background, Bangladesh has to remember the fact every day that the existing division in the heart of the country and society has not been bridged at all. Mistrust between the political majority and the minority is still a major obstacle to nation building. Party positions, leadership disputes, ideological battles and conflicts of interest are major obstacles to peace and stability. There is no visible attempt to integrate division and diversity. Rather, even after the change of power, fierce competition for positions and power has spread from the administration to the university. The place of neutral and acceptable candidates is being taken by the politically victorious forces, which are essentially ghosts of the authoritarian and fascist past of making everything 'mine and ours'.

If the shadow of the ghost of the past is prolonged, how successful will the attempt to be united and free from the danger of authoritarianism and the dangers of fascism be? How safe can the program of nation building be? These are very important questions. Especially if it is not possible to develop the pluralist path of unity and harmony in the midst of division and diversity as a social path, the rule of the majority will continue and authoritarianism and fascism will continue the post will continue to increase gradually. Achieving the noble cause of reform and positive change may not be easy or possible unless political or ideological minority-statist divides are bridged and brought into credible rapprochement.

It is certainly true that long and complex problems are difficult to eradicate when their roots are deeply rooted. Especially if things like division and conflict exist at every level of the society; it is impossible to eliminate it in one day. Rather, mere ledger democracy without cultural improvement cannot ensure the coexistence of all. At least an atmosphere of coexistence has been created in liberal parliamentary democracy, but it needs to be furthered in various ways because coexistence depends on the discourse, discussion and dialogic practices and attitudes of the society. Starting that dialogue requires strong political neutrality and a liberal attitude. Focusing on how coexistence can be socially reinforced is really important in complex situations, rather than taking everything as a group consideration. Strengthening coexistence and stability in politics can be easy and possible only if new efforts are made for unity and coexistence by observing the history of friendship and enmity in politics and society.

Dr. Mahfuz Parvez, Associate Editor, Barta24.com; Professor and Chairman, Department of Political Science, University of Chattogram; Executive Director, Chattogram Center for Regional Studies, Bangladesh (CCRSBD).