Dhaka: The government today firmly rejected the recent story of Netra News on Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). A press release of the Ministry of Home Affairs today said, a recent article by Netra News and its associated photo project mischaracterize the CHT as an 'occupied' or 'militarized' region.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the home ministry clarified that the presentation of the CHT as an occupied territory is incorrect and misleading. The government emphasized that the Chittagong Hill Tracts have always been an integral part of Bangladesh since its independence in 1971 and are administered under civil authority, not military rule.
The ministry highlighted that the security forces in CHT are present similarly to other parts of the country, with a role to ensure peace, safeguard citizens, and support the region's stability and development. The government also rejected any comparison of the CHT with the 'West Bank' or other occupied territories, labeling such analogies as baseless and distorted.
The home ministry reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to upholding human rights, fostering inclusivity, and advancing welfare and development for all communities in the CHT. They invited credible reporting on any alleged human rights concerns, noting that no substantiated complaints of systematic abuse by security forces have been received.
The statement underscored Bangladesh's valuation of freedom of expression in journalism and the arts, urging media and creative platforms to maintain responsibility and factual accuracy. The ministry called for professionalism, due diligence, and sensitivity when addressing complex historical and social contexts.