The ministry report on law and order of the three hill districts, which was submitted before the parliamentary standing committee on CHT affairs yesterday, voiced the concern. It recommended alerting the police, paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), and army personnel to the possibility of violence.

The standing committee meeting chaired by Mosharraf Hossain at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban yesterday decided to invite state minister for home and BDR director general to discuss the law and order of the CHT in its next meeting.

The report said the law and order in Khagrachhari is much worse compared with that of the previous years. The situation in the two other hill districts -- Rangamati and Bandarban -- is relatively stable.

"For now, the situation in Khagrachhari appears to be under control thanks to stepped up activities of the police, BDR, and army, but a fierce fighting might break out anytime between PCJSS and UPDF over establishing supremacy in the area," Khagrachhari Deputy Commissioner Gazi Mohammad Julhas was quoted as saying in the report.

The CHT affairs standing committee at yesterday's meeting also formed a five-member sub-committee to come up with recommendations on ways to maintain stability in the hill districts.

Besides, it asked the ministry to beef up the presence of BDR and other law enforcement agency members in the bordering areas, and continue the anti-crime drives.

About the longstanding conflict between PCJSS and UPDF, the report prepared by three deputy commissioners of the concerned districts said both the groups are desperately trying to establish dominance over the other.

It said that this year the PCJSS has filed seven cases against the UPDF for abducting its members. The UPDF does not file cases, as they do not operate overtly, the report continued.

It also observed that the PCJSS is running a campaign abroad saying that the peace accord is not being implemented while their opponent sticks to continuing the anti-peace accord activities.

The CHT affairs ministry in the report has acknowledged that some clauses of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord, 1997 have yet to be implemented, and that it has caused widespread resentment among the hills people.

Singling out land dispute between Bangalee settlers and indigenous people as one of the main reasons for communal tensions in CHT, the report has recommended strengthening the CHT Land Dispute Resolve Commission.

Committee Chairman Mosharraf Hossain after the meeting told newsmen that the committee in its next meeting will table specific recommendations on ensuring peace in the hill districts.

Committee members Moni Swapon Dewan, Shahjahan Chowdhury, Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, and Wadud Bhuiyan were also present at the meeting.