Integrating Communities Through Development, Security, and National Unity
The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), comprising Khagrachari, Rangamati, and Bandarban, are among Bangladesh’s most diverse and strategically significant regions. Blessed with lush forests, rivers, and a rich cultural heritage, the area is home to numerous indigenous communities alongside Bengali settlers. While decades have passed since the 1997 Peace Accord, the CHT continues to face challenges in socio-economic development, connectivity, governance, and security. The path forward requires an integrated strategy combining community-led development, robust security infrastructure, cultural integration, and economic opportunity, transforming the region into a model of stability and national cohesion.
Socio-Economic Development
Reducing poverty and unemployment is critical to building lasting peace. The CHT has untapped economic potential in agriculture, horticulture, handicrafts, and small-scale industries. Establishing agro-industrial hubs in each district would focus on processing local crops such as ginger, turmeric, oranges, and hill rice, providing storage, processing, and market-linkage support. Microfinance programmes and entrepreneurship training targeted at women and youth would enable the creation of small businesses in handicrafts, bamboo products, and agro-processing. Skill development initiatives in carpentry, masonry, mechanics, IT, hospitality, and eco-tourism would prepare residents for emerging economic sectors, while sustainable forestry projects and reforestation programmes would protect the environment and provide income. Marketing initiatives, such as branding CHT products as “Organic & Heritage,” would connect local producers to national and international markets, ensuring economic growth benefits the communities directly.
Education and Digital Inclusion
Education is central to social cohesion and economic mobility. Many remote villages lack access to quality schools, vocational training, and higher education. Modern multi-lingual schools accommodating both Bengali and indigenous languages would bridge educational gaps and preserve cultural identity. Technical and vocational institutes in Rangamati, Bandarban, and Khagrachhari would equip students with skills in IT, renewable energy, engineering, and tourism management. University outreach programmes and scholarships linking students from the hills with Dhaka, Chattogram, and Rajshahi universities would foster leadership and national integration. Village-level digital literacy hubs, equipped with computers and high-speed internet, would enable e-learning, e-governance access, and telemedicine support, while mentorship programmes connect youth with professionals to guide career development in STEM, commerce, and public service.
Healthcare Access and Medical Modernisation
Access to modern healthcare in the CHT is limited by its rugged terrain. Upgrading district hospitals in Rangamati, Bandarban, and Khagrachhari with modern imaging, laboratories, surgical facilities, and emergency care is essential. Mobile medical units, supported by the Army, would reach remote villages to provide vaccinations, maternal care, and basic surgical interventions. Telemedicine systems linking village health posts with major hospitals in Chattogram and Dhaka would allow specialist consultations. Training community health workers ensures first-aid and preventive care coverage, while public health campaigns on nutrition, hygiene, maternal health, and disease prevention would improve overall well-being. Partnerships with NGOs and civil society organisations can expand mental health services and other critical healthcare interventions across all communities.
Infrastructure and Connectivity
Reliable transport and energy networks underpin development, governance, and security. Upgrading all-weather roads and bridges would link remote villages to district centres, while a dedicated border road network would facilitate rapid movement for both civil and defence agencies. Renewable energy microgrids, including solar and small-hydro projects, would provide sustainable electricity to remote communities. Digital connectivity through fibre-optic and 4G/5G networks ensures access to e-governance, online education, telemedicine, and e-commerce. Complementary water and sanitation infrastructure, including safe drinking water systems, rainwater harvesting, and waste management, would improve living standards. Disaster-resilient measures, such as landslide barriers, river embankments, and early-warning networks, are vital to protect communities from natural hazards.
Border Security and Surveillance
The CHT’s long, rugged frontier requires integrated, technologically advanced border management. High-integrity fencing and terrain-adapted barriers would protect vulnerable sectors. Coordinated patrols by the Bangladesh Army, BGB, and Police, supplemented with ISR drones, sensor-equipped watchtowers, and automated alarms, would enable persistent monitoring of remote areas. Continuous patrols, supported by a modern border road network, would allow rapid response to illegal crossings, smuggling, and potential militant infiltration. Cross-agency communication centres would facilitate real-time intelligence sharing, ensuring both security and community protection.
Community-Centred Security Network
To strengthen trust between residents and security forces, 250 security camps should be re-established, serving as operational hubs for law enforcement, logistics, and civil assistance. Complementing these camps, every village should host a Security Liaison Centre (SLC), comprising the Army, BGB, Police, and local village representatives. Village liaison officers would serve as the community’s voice, providing early warning, coordinating development and disaster response, and ensuring transparent communication. SLCs prioritise cooperative problem-solving, community development, and conflict mediation, creating a security framework that protects residents while supporting daily life.
Mountain Warfare Infantry Division
The challenging terrain of the CHT necessitates a dedicated Mountain Warfare Infantry Division, tasked with operations, training, and civil-assistance missions across Khagrachari, Rangamati, and Bandarban. This division would undergo specialised training in jungle, mountain, and riverine operations, including survival skills and high-altitude medical care. Recruitment would prioritise inclusion, drawing personnel from both Bengali and indigenous communities to strengthen local trust. The division would operate in close coordination with BGB, Police, and SLCs for border security, intelligence-sharing, and emergency response. Sub-units would also focus on engineering, medical outreach, and disaster relief. Environmental stewardship would remain central, with operations respecting local land rights and conservation priorities.
Sports and Youth Empowerment
Youth engagement through sports builds discipline, leadership, and social cohesion. Regional tournaments in football, athletics, martial arts, and traditional hill games would unite communities. Mountain adventure and trekking camps organised by the Army and civil authorities would develop resilience, teamwork, and leadership skills. Scholarships for high-performing athletes and mentorship programmes linking youth with professionals in urban centres provide pathways to national and international opportunities, while fostering a sense of belonging and national pride.
Tourism and Environmental Stewardship
The CHT’s natural beauty and cultural heritage position it as a prime eco-tourism destination. Developing cultural heritage villages, trekking and adventure corridors, and community-led lodges ensures tourism revenue benefits local populations. Initiatives to conserve forests, wildlife, and water resources would accompany tourism development. By promoting environmental responsibility alongside economic growth, tourism can strengthen both livelihoods and ecological preservation.
Social Harmony and Inter-Community Integration
Sustainable peace requires mutual trust and shared identity. Intercultural festivals, joint educational programmes, and civic engagement activities foster understanding among Bengali and indigenous communities. Voluntary inter-ethnic and intercultural marriages serve as natural bridges, blending traditions and reinforcing social cohesion. Faith-based and civil society organisations can contribute to welfare, literacy, and healthcare initiatives, ensuring equitable access and promoting harmony across communities.
Conclusion
The Chittagong Hill Tracts can emerge as a beacon of unity, security, and sustainable development. By combining education, healthcare, economic opportunity, robust infrastructure, community-centred security, specialised mountain forces, and inclusive governance, Bangladesh can ensure that all residents—Bengali or hill-dweller, Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, or otherwise—share equally in national progress. With participatory development, civil-military collaboration, and locally empowered structures, the CHT can be transformed from a historically marginalised region into a model of peace, prosperity, and national cohesion.
Ayesha Farid is a regional security specialist focusing on South Asia, with over a decade of experience analysing inter-state tensions, cross-border insurgency, and regional power dynamics. She has worked with leading policy think tanks and academic institutions, offering nuanced insights into the complex security challenges shaping the subcontinent. Ayesha’s expertise spans military doctrines, border disputes, and regional cooperation frameworks, making her a vital contributor to BDMilitary’s coverage of South Asian strategic affairs. She leads the Geopolitics & Diplomacy section at BDMilitary. Ayesha holds a dual master’s degree — a Master in International Relations from the IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs, Spain, and a Master of Public Policy from the Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto, Canada — combining deep academic insight with practical policy expertise.
