The government plans to roll out Starlink satellite internet in 100 schools across the Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) within the next six months, aiming to bridge the digital divide and enhance e-learning opportunities for students in remote areas.

According to CHT Affairs Adviser Supradip Chakma, this initiative will enable students from hilly and hard-to-reach areas to attend virtual classes led by skilled teachers from urban centers, helping ensure equal access to quality education.

“This step will not only modernize learning but also give our young people the technological skills needed for higher education and future careers,” he said.

Efforts are underway to deliver technology-based education to students from diverse ethnic backgrounds in the CHT. Chakma emphasized that quality education is key to enabling students in the region to compete on equal footing with others nationwide. “We cannot rely on quotas forever. Strong schools and colleges are essential here,” he noted, adding that satellite-based education and student hostels at district and upazila levels are also part of the plan.

The government’s development vision for the CHT includes setting up an engineering college, a nursing college, dormitories, orphanages, and more facilities for students. Economic self-reliance is another priority, with three-year projects for bamboo cultivation, expanded veterinary and fisheries programs, and the introduction of new crops like cashew nuts, coffee, and maize.

“Bamboo can be the backbone of the hill economy, offering both environmental protection and income generation,” Chakma said, stressing that development will proceed without harming the region’s natural landscape.

He also highlighted the potential of Kaptai Lake in Rangamati, calling it “a goldmine” for fish farming, which could generate significant local employment.

The government’s broader strategy focuses on fostering unity, protecting the rights of all communities, and ensuring no one in the CHT is left behind. “We want the hill people to be fully part of the country’s progress,” Chakma affirmed, calling for collective effort across society to maintain harmony and development.

With sports development programs and infrastructure improvements also on the agenda, the government aims to create a vibrant, prosperous, and inclusive future for the Chattogram Hill Tracts.