A/55/280/Add.2 38. Following his visit, the Special Rapporteur received a note from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, stating: The policies and programmes of the Government are designed to enlarge, and not restrain, freedom and essence of democracy with the prevalence of the views of not just the majority but the consideration of the opinion of the minority as well, be it religious or ethnic. The peacefully negotiated political solution to the Chittagong Hill Tracts issue is a unique example set, of providing, if not equal, but greater rights and opportunities to the minority tribal population, of primarily Buddhist origin in Bangladesh. The Government is fully committed to the protection and preservation of the socio-cultural heritage, including religious festivities of the tribal population of the CHT by providing fiscal, educational and social privileges and benefits to members belonging to different tribes and religion. The government allocated Tk 11,500 million in 1999-2000 for development activities in the CHT, which is considerably higher than the per capita annual budget spent for the socioeconomic development in other non-tribal districts in the country. The population density of the CHT area is only 78.2 persons per square kilometre, as compared to the much higher 755 persons per km2 density nationally. The forestry resources in the area cover more than one third of the country’s total forest reserves. The per capita income of the CHT is estimated at Tk 14,400 (1992/1993) against the national average of Tk 8,368. The literacy rate among the Chakma, the largest tribal faction, is nearly 60 per cent, which is higher than the national average of 52 per cent. There are more than 92 primary schools per 100,000 people in the area, against about 46 on average in the country. Similarly, there are 22 thana health complexes for a million population in the CHT, against 1 thana health complex for the same size of population in the rest of the country. Social policy and administrative measures are also in place in line with constitutional provisions to enable and encourage better access of these minority tribes to the mainstream of national socio-economic and development activities. Special quotas are in place for them in the educational institutions, as well as in the public service. 39. The Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed that although the Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist communities were in a special minority position, they benefited from the same principle of equality accorded to all citizens, including within the administration. The Secretary for the Interior said that Bangladesh did not experience any real difficulties in the area of religion — especially with regard to minorities — as demonstrated, in his view, by the growth of the Christian community (the result of active conversion among the various tribes). The Secretary for the Interior acknowledged that certain incidents did occur. Particular mention was made of the opposition of local Muslim leaders to the extension of an Anglican church in Dhaka. This opposition was motivated more by considerations of land than by religious considerations. Also mentioned were the attacks carried out over the last four years against the Ahmadi, by small political groups seeking to create instability. The Secretary for the Interior felt, however, that any sense of insecurity that might be felt by the country’s minority groups was also felt by the majority. The Minister of Religious Affairs noted that the Ahmadis, who were fully recognized as Muslims in Bangladesh, were experiencing national security problems affecting all of Bangladesh. He added that the Government was taking the measures necessary to protect minorities. With regard to the incident at the Saint Francis Xavier Girls’ High School in Dhaka (see para. 66), he believed that this was the only case of an attack against church property. He noted that a member of parliament had succeeded in reaching a compromise solution in this matter (which was in fact a land issue), and that the Prime Minister had visited the site (see also the reply by Bangladesh to the communication of the Special Rapporteur with regard to this incident, E/CN.4/1999/58, para. 36). The Secretary for the Interior said that in Bangladesh the main threat in this context was related to poverty, and especially to gender discrimination — both of which were crucial obstacles to development. The Minister considered that the fight against poverty and the improvement of public institutions, particularly legal institutions, and law and order institutions (plagued by a serious corruption problem) were key to the building of a modern society, and thus to the resolution of the various problems (including religious problems) faced by Bangladesh. 9