Bangla rebels surrender complete

DHAKA, MARCH 6: The last of a large group of tribal rebels surrendered on Thursday ending a 22-year-old separatist war in Bangladesh’s southeastern hills, the government said.

Two hundred and twenty two rebels, mostly from the Chakma tribe, surrendered before government ministers at Dudukchara township in Khagrachari district, 176 km southeast of Dhaka.

The surrender began on February 10 when 239 rebels laid down their arms before Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who negotiated a peace accord with the guerillas that gave them greater control over the development of the southeastern hill region.

The region of rugged hills and dense forests is rich in timber and gas resources on the frontiers of India and Burma.