State Minister for Land and Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin -File photo

BANDARBAN, Sept 3, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Land and Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin has pledged to transform the CHT into a prosperous region by ensuring overall development, prosperity and communal harmony among all communities.

He said bringing about a transformative improvement in the living standards of the people from all communities is at the core of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s concept of building a “Rainbow Nation.”

The state minister made the remarks while addressing a function at the conference room of the CHT Development Board here this afternoon as the chief guest.

At the programme, multimedia equipment was distributed among various educational institutions, sewing machines were provided to indigenous minority groups and local women and power tillers were also handed over to the farmers.

Mir Helal said the government wants to ensure overall development and prosperity for people of all communities.

“Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, coordinated and comprehensive development activities are continuing across the country as well as in the CHT to improve the lives of disadvantaged people in the region,” he said.

He stressed the need to preserve the country’s diverse arts, culture, heritage and traditions and showcase them to the world communities.

The state minister further said everyone must work together in a coordinated manner to strengthen peace, harmony and goodwill in the hill region and make the most of its immense potential.

During the programme, 15 power tillers were distributed among local farmers, while sewing machines were handed over to women to become economically self-reliant. Multimedia equipment was also provided to educational institutions to improve the quality of education, he added. 

Earlier, the state minister inaugurated a new building of Bandarban MDCS Hospital, laid the foundation stone for expansion work of the hospital building and inaugurated a hostel building of Bandarban Cantonment Public School and College.

He also inspected several ongoing development projects in the district.
Major General (retd) Anup Kumar Chakma, Chairman of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board, chaired the programme.

Among others, Bandarban Region Commander of the Bangladesh Army Brigadier General Mohammad Ariful Islam, Vice Chairman of the CHT Development Board Sheikh Saleh Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer Suman Barua and Principal of Bandarban Cantonment Public School and College Lt Col Mohammad Kamrul Hasan Khan were present.

Senior officials from the CHT Development Board, Bangladesh Army and various government institutions also attended the programme.