Remark of army chief slammed

New Age, Dhaka, May 3, 2008

Remark of army chief slammed
Staff Correspondent

Leaders of seven student organisations, including Greater Chittagong Hill Tracts Hill Students' Council, in a joint statement protested at the statements of the army chief, General Moeen U Ahmed, made on April 29 as he visited the fire-ravaged villages of Sajek in Baghaichari.
The student leaders alleged the army chief tried to protect the perpetrators, terming the incident a criminal acts and result of 'provocation of some people.' They said Moyeen was trying to cover up the misdeeds of some identified persons involved in the incident labelling them as criminals.
The Greater Chittagong Hill Tracts Hill Students' Council in another statement raised a question about the call of the army chief for working together to establishing peace in the hill tracts by maintaining friendly relations between the hill people and the settlers.
The organisations are Bangladesh Chhatra Federation, Jatiya Chhatra Dal, Biplobi Chhatra-Juba Andolon, Propod, Biplobi Chhatra Sangha, Sangskritik Naya Setu, and Greater Chittagong Hill Tracts Hill Students' Council.
On April 19, hoodlums set fire to six villages of hill people and settlers at Sajek.
Moeen U Ahmed on April 29 called on all to work together to establish peace in the hill tracts by maintaining friendly relations. He said a section was out there to destroy peace in the hill tracts, but they were unlikely to be successful in their ill efforts.