Although 28 years have passed since the signing of the Chattogram Hill Tracts Peace Accord, uncertainty continues over resolving the legal disputes involving the CHT regional council.

Two appeals have remained pending before the SC for about 14 years.

Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman said the appeals are unlikely to be heard soon, as they remain at the bottom of the court's hearing list.

Advocate Md Tajul Islam, currently ICT chief prosecutor and one of the petitioners who challenged the council before the High Court, said he cannot take any steps regarding the appeals until after the upcoming general election due to his workload.

He said state counsels may act if the appeals appear on the hearing list.

Since its formation in 1999, the CHT Regional Council has been functioning under the leadership of PCJSS President Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, popularly known as Santu Larma.

In 2011, the government and the CHT Regional Council filed appeals challenging the HC verdict, arguing that the council is a statutory authority formed to support the three hill district councils and that the law is protected by the constitution as a form of affirmative action for a backward population group.

Following two petitions filed by M Badiuzzaman and SC lawyer Tajul Islam on April 13, 2010, an HC bench led by Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, who is now the chief justice, declared the CHT Regional Council Act 1998 illegal and unconstitutional.

The HC said in its verdict that the unitary character of the state, a basic feature of the constitution, had been hampered by the council's formation. The council has been operating under an SC order since then.

In 2011, the government and the CHT Regional Council filed appeals challenging the HC verdict, arguing that the council is a statutory authority formed to support the three hill district councils and that the law is protected by the constitution as a form of affirmative action for a backward population group.

On March 3, 2011, the SC upheld the stay order and allowed both parties to proceed with their appeals.

The appeals appeared on the court's cause list on March 6, 2018, but the hearing was adjourned for four weeks.

Barrister Belayet Hossain, lawyer for the petitioners, earlier said a lengthy hearing is required due to the historical, political and constitutional complexities of the case.

He said the HC verdict should be upheld, arguing that the CHT Regional Council is not a local government body but "a kind of mini state within the republic", which undermines the unitary form of government.