Rangamati election candidates demand reinstatement of Dipen Dewan as CHT affairs minister

Candidates from Rangamati constituency in the 13th parliamentary election today demanded reinstatement of Dipen Dewan as the Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs minister and the removal of the state minister.

They demanded withdrawal of Dipen' resignation letter at a press conference at a restaurant in Stadium Market of Rangamati city. Independent candidate for Rangamati constituency Pahel Chakma read out a written statement at the event. Gono Odhikar Parishad-backed candidate MA Abul Bashar was also present.

At the conference, the candidates demanded that Rangamati MP Advocate Dipen Dewan be reinstated as the full-time minister to protect the rights of the hill people and ensure the effective functioning of the ministry, in accordance with the provisions of Article 19 of Part ‘D’ of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Agreement.

They also argued that, as per the Chittagong Hill Tracts Agreement, there is no provision for the posts of state minister or deputy minister in this ministry. Therefore, they demanded that the current State Minister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, who was "appointed in violation of the agreement", be immediately withdrawn and removed from his post at the ministry.

At the same time, they called for strict adherence in the future to the provision that no person from outside the Chittagong Hill Tracts should be appointed as state minister or deputy minister in this ministry.