Empowerment of the Indigenous People through Peace Accord and Conflicts in Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh

This study has been done on the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) ‘Peace Accord’ in Bangladesh which is the policy response of government to address socioeconomic, educational and cultural rights of the indigenous people. In this context, my study illuminates on two concepts namely ‘participation’ and ‘peacebuilding’. Here, the main research question is : How far does ‘Participation’ function as an effective peace building tool in CHT- region of Bangladesh? To answer the question, I employ ‘Community Based Peace Building Approach’ (CBPBA) as a theoretical ground. In my study, I have found that ‘participation’ as a peace building tool does not function fully in the CHT region, although it is functioning partially. My study reveals that although indigenous people were empowered through the Peace Accord, the real decision making power has remained limited to the hands of the central government. This study also reveals that although the large number of community people have been participating in the peace building processes, their levels of participation are equivalent to ‘Passive Participation’ and ‘Participation in information giving’-according to Pimbert and Pretty’s(1994) participation typology chart.These levels are below from the normative standard of participation.This study also reveals that although ‘Peace Accord’ has terminated decades long organized armed struggles, it has yet to be established sustainable peace. (Less)