§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 17 March (WA 45), what was the outcome of the discussions held with donor colleagues in advance of the Bangladesh Development Forum in May on the most appropriate way to raise concerns about continued unrest in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region. [HL2538]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanDiscussions between partners on how to approach the Bangladesh Development Forum (from 8 to 10 May) are ongoing. However we expect donors to raise concerns over the problems facing the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).
Our High Commission in Dhaka is also pursuing other means to highlight these concerns to the Government of Bangladesh. At the UK's suggestion, EU Heads of Mission visited the CHT from 22 to 24 March. The visit included touring relief efforts in the Mahalchari area, where the homes of over 300 indigenous families were destroyed in an attack in August 2003. Rebuilding and rehabilitation is being co-ordinated by the UN Development Programme, funded by a number of donors, including through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Directorate Programme Budget. EU Heads of Mission also met local leaders and government representatives in Khagrachari and Rangamati, in both emphasising the need for lasting and peaceful solutions for the area, and that further attacks like that in Mahalchari were unacceptable.