POLITICS OF PEACE AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION : a case study of the chittagong hill tracts (cht) in... bangladesh

Dr. Sajib Bala is Associate Professor, Department of International Relations, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh. This book analyses why is it that the different actors, namely the GoB, the Hill people and the international community, hold different views about the CHT Peace Agreement and the question of its implementation. It is based on a qualitative research study using methodological triangulation of both primary and secondary data. The author scrutinizes the underlying facts regarding the implementation politics (or interest) of the CHT Peace Agreement. . Preface 6 Contents 9 Acronyms 12 List of Figures 15 List of Tables 16 1 Introduction 18 1.1 Chapter Introduction 18 1.2 Demographic Composition of Bangladesh 20 1.3 Overview of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) 21 1.4 Background of the Research Question 23 1.5 Research Question, Objectives and Hypotheses 26 1.6 Originality 26 1.7 Research Method 28 1.8 Overview of Chapters 30 References 33 2 Politics of Peace Agreement Implementation: Theoretical Reflections 35 2.1 Chapter Introduction 35 2.2 Theoretical and Conceptual Analysis 37 2.2.1 Liberalism, Realism, Neoliberalism and Neorealism 37 2.2.2 Synthesis of Neoliberalism and Neorealism 39 2.2.3 Politics 40 2.2.4 Conceptualisation of Peace 43 2.2.5 Definition of Peace Agreement 45 2.2.6 Implementation of Peace Agreement 46 2.2.7 Operationalisation of the Definitions 49 2.3 Analytical Framework 50 2.3.1 State Level 51 2.3.2 CHT-Based Local Level 52 2.3.3 International Level 53 2.4 Theoretical and Analytical Design 53 2.5 Chapter Conclusion 54 References 55 3 From Eruption of the Conflict to Its Management 57 3.1 Chapter Introduction 57 3.2 Pre-colonial Period: Beginning of the Erosion of the Hill People’s Autonomy 58 3.3 British Period (1760–1947): Beginning of the Marginalisation of the Hill People 60 3.3.1 Political and Administrative Developments 60 3.3.2 Economic and Socio-Cultural Management 64 3.3.3 Acquisition of Land and Forests by the British 66 3.4 Pakistan Period (1947–1971): Continued Marginalisation 67 3.4.1 Politico-Administrative Changes 68 3.4.2 Development Projects: Way of Economic Exploitation 69 3.5 Bangladesh Period (1971–1997) 72 3.5.1 Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Government (1972–1975): The Beginning of Resistance by the Hill People 73 3.5.2 Military and Quasi-Military Regime (1976–1990) 74 3.5.3 Land, Forests and the Issue of the Bengali Settlers 76 3.5.4 Moving Towards Signing of the CHT Peace Agreement (1991–1997) 77 3.6 Chapter Conclusion 79 References 81 4 Assessment of the Implementation Status of the CHT Peace Agreement 83 4.1 Chapter Introduction 83 4.2 Factors Underlying Signing of the CHT Peace Agreement 84 4.3 Key Features of the CHT Peace Agreement and Its Major Subjects 85 4.4 Implementation Status: A Dispute 89 4.4.1 Implementation Status Claimed by the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) 89 4.4.2 Implementation Status Claimed by the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) 90 4.4.3 Dispute Regarding Implementation Status as Argued by the GoB and the PCJSS 93 4.4.4 Summary of Discussion Regarding the Implementation Dispute (Tables 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.10, and 4.11) 106 4.4.5 Issue of the Bengali Settlers 107 4.5 Chapter Conclusion 107 References 108 5 State Actors and Implementation of the CHT Peace Agreement 111 5.1 Chapter Introduction 111 5.2 Response at the Governmental Level 112 5.2.1 Awami League (AL) as a Ruling Political Party 112 5.2.2 Political Motives of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and the Jatiya Party (JP) Towards the CHT Peace Agreement 116 5.2.3 Constitutional Debate and the Issue of State Sovereignty 118 5.2.4 Politics of Assuming Power Through Winning National Parliamentary Elections 120 5.2.5 Selection, Instead of Election, in the CHT-Based Local Bodies 122 5.3 Role of the Army in the CHT’s Affairs 122 5.3.1 Army Deployment and Economic Expenses 123 5.3.2 Administrative Control to Gain Economic Benefit 124 5.3.3 Political Involvement 126 5.3.4 Summing-Up of the Army’s Role in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) 127 5.4 Bureaucracy in the CHT-Based Local Administration 128 5.4.1 Bureaucratic Non-cooperation 129 5.4.2 Lack of Coordination Between the CHT’s Institutions 130 5.4.3 Deputy Commissioners’ Role in the CHT’s Administration 131 5.4.4 Summary of the Bureaucratic Mindset in the CHT’s Administration 131 5.5 Chapter Conclusion 132 References 133 6 Empirical Study at CHT-Based Local Level 135 6.1 Chapter Introduction 135 6.2 Intra-Community Rivalries 136 6.3 Inter-Community (Bengali Settlers vs. Hill People) Relationships Affecting the CHT Peace Agreement 144 6.4 Factional Rivalries of the CHT People 146 6.5 Brief Analysis of Group Dynamics in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) 147 6.6 Chapter Conclusion 148 References 149 7 Empirical Study at International Level 151 7.1 Chapter Introduction 151 7.2 Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Case at the International Level 152 7.3 India’s Role Regarding the CHT Case 153 7.4 Role of the International Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission 156 7.5 Development Initiatives of the CHT and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 161 7.6 Undesirable Examples of International Organisations’ Involvement 164 7.7 Chapter Conclusion 165 References 166 8 Dynamics of Peace Agreement Implementation: Research Findings 167 8.1 Chapter Introduction 167 8.2 Findings Through Comprehensive Analysis 168 8.3 Revisiting the Hypotheses, Objectives and Research Question 177 8.4 Chapter Conclusion 178 9 Conclusion 180 9.1 Revisiting the Findings: Politics in Actors’ Interests 181 9.2 Policy Recommendations 184 9.3 Implications 187 9.4 Comparative Analysis of the CHT Peace Agreement with Other Peace Agreements 188 9.5 Avenues for Further Research 190 Appendix 1: Semi-Structured Questionnaire (Checklist) 192 Appendix 2: List of Interviewees 195 Appendix 3: Map of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) 200 Appendix 4: Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Agreement of 1997 202 Index 219 Analyses why is it that the different actors hold different views about the CHT Peace Agreement and the question of its implementation Is based on a qualitative research study using methodological triangulation of both primary and secondary data Scrutinises the underlying facts regarding the implementation politics (or interest) of the CHT Peace Agreement