Three Hill District Councils Reconstituted in Chittagong Hill Tracts

The Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs has officially reorganized the three Hill District Councils in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. This administrative overhaul was enacted through the issuance of three separate official notifications on Thursday. The reconstitution process affects the Rangamati, Bandarban, and Khagrachhari hill district councils, establishing new interim leadership teams to administer local governance under the existing district council laws and their respective amendments.

Under the newly issued directives, Dipan Talukdar, who serves as the president of the district BNP, has been appointed as the interim chairman of the Rangamati Hill District Council. For the Bandarban Hill District Council, Mamaching Marma, a former Member of Parliament and the BNP central committee's tribal affairs secretary, has been designated as the new chairman. Meanwhile, MraShathowai Marma, a former accountant for the agency, has taken over leadership as the new chairman of the Khagrachhari Hill District Council.

Alongside the newly appointed chairmen, each of the three councils has been reinforced with the inclusion of 14 newly appointed members. The newly constituted bodies feature a significant representation of individuals associated with the BNP and its affiliated organizations, including the Chhatradol, Krishak Dal, and Mohila Dal, alongside various local figures such as Kajol Talukdar, Mongol Chandra Pal, Mohammad Mamunur Rashid, Shaswat Chakma, Biltu Chakma, Subimal Chakma, Paiching Mong Marma, Anil Baran Chakma, Uthowaimong Marma, Timothy Khiang, Md. Tofazzal Hossain, Mohammad Faruk, Nandita Das, Chandra Chakma, Suparna Deb Barman, Prema Talukdar, Ananda Tishya Chakma, Chanumong, Mongkyanu Marma, Lusai Mong, Maosetung Tanchangya, Donwai Lo, Augustin Tripura, Ongjai Ui Chak, Rial Daw Bom, Abdul Mabud, Mashiur Rahman, Mohammad Jasim Uddin, Kyaw Pru Khiang, Umysing Marma, Kazi Nirutanja Begum, Shefalika Tripura, Md. Nurul Absar, Md. A. Malek, Mosharraf Hossain, Kshetra Mohan Roaza, Khoni Ranjan Tripura, Riplal Chakma, Shantipriya Chakma, Deb Rani Chakma, Narayan Tripura, Rumel Marma, Mongsapru Chowdhury, Carry Mag, Taslima Siraj Sima, and Kuheli Dewan.

The administrative transition has been formalized across the region, with organizations such as the Sajek Resort and Cottage Owners Association and the Bangladesh Marma Oikya Samity noting the developments. According to Ananda Tishya Chakma, the formal reconstitution process has been successfully finalized through the issuance of the official notifications by the ministry.

The newly established interim councils will operate under specific legal mandates governing local administration. An official notification has clarified that until further notice, the reconstituted interim councils will perform all responsibilities assigned to them in strict accordance with the provisions outlined in their respective district council laws and subsequent amendments.