1. Ethnic groups of
Bangladesh
(chittagong hill track)
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Hill tracks of Bangladesh
In the map of Bangladeshthe hill areashownbyredmarked.
the area what showninthe southeasterncornerof the mapof Bangladesh isa districtof our country
namedChittagong.
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Chittagong :Chittagongisa majorcoastal seaportcityand financial centerin
southeastern Bangladesh.The ChittagongMetropolitanAreahasa populationof over6.5 million
HILL TRACTS DISTRICTS Hill Tracts Districts - world of panoramic beauty The hill Tracts Districts with
its perennial forest, thrilling drives through hills and dales, emerald blue water of Kaptai lake, colorful
tribal life and culture, attractive handicrafts and artisans beacons you to a world of panoramic beauty
mother nature has so lavishly unfolded. Greater Hill Tracts is divided into three districts, namely
Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban each one equally unique in its attractions.

2. Sl4-
RANGAMATI- THE HEART OF THE LAKE DISTRICT
From Chittagong a 77 km. road amidst green fields and winding hills will take you to Rangamati, the
headquarters of Rangamati Hill District which is a wonderful repository of scenic splendors with flora and
fauna of varied descriptions. The township is located on the western bank of the Kaptai Lake. Rangamati
is a favorite holiday resort because of its beautiful landscape, scenic beauty, lake, colorful tribes
(Chakma, Marma etc.) its flora and fauna, tribal museum, hanging bridge, homespun textile products,
ivory jeweler and the tribal men and women who fashion them. For tourists the attractions of Rangamati
are numerous, tribal life, fishing, speed boat cruising, water skiing, hiking, bathing or merely enjoying
nature as it is. Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation provides suitable hotel and cottage accommodation,
catering, speed boat and other facilities at Rangamati.
Sl05- KHAGRACHARI
Khagrachari is a hill tracts district located in the south- eastern part of Bangladesh. The local name of the
region is “Chengmi”. amous Tourist Places in Khagrachari District
Manik Chori Mogh Rajar Residence, Ramgor Lake and Tea Garden, Alutila Mysterious Cave, Hill Tract
Agricultural Institute project, Richhang waterfall, Nunchhori Debota Pond, Yonged Buddha Bihar,
Dighinala Manikker Dighi and Touduchhori Waterfall, Dighinala Reserve Forest, Vagaban Tila, Shajek
and Marissa Vally, Richhang Falls, Hundreds years Banyan tree (Matiranga) etc.
Sl6-Bandarban
Bandarban Hill District is the most remote and least populated district in Bangladesh. The lure of the
tallest peaks of Bangladesh, treks through virgin forests and chance to meet more than 15 tribes of the
region up close is growing both among Bangladeshis and tourists from other countries. Since the
insurgency ceased in the Chittagong Hill Tracts

3. Sl7-
Life of the people of hill area of Bangladesh
Although Bangladesh's population consists mostly of Muslim, Bengali speakers, it also contains a variety
of other ethnic groups (see Table). Most of these groups inhabit the district known as the Chittagong Hill
Tracts, a region of hills and forests which was comparatively inaccessible until recently. The Chittagong
Hill Tracts is one of the most diverse regions in the country in terms of geography, ethnicity, culture and
traditions of the people. From time immemorial the CHT has been the home to eleven indigenous ethnic
people. They are the Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Tanchangya, Mro, Lushai, Khumi, Chak, Khiyang,
Bawm and Pangkhua. Besides, a very small number of descendents of Assames, Gorkha and Santal
also live there. There are also Bengali populations in CHT. The indigenous Jumma people are distinct
and different from the majority Bengali people of Bangladesh in respect of race, language, culture,
heritage, religion, political history and economy.
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Ethnic Groups
The
Manipuri
The Manipuris are one of the major ethnic communities of Bangladesh. They migrated to Bangladesh
during the reign of Rajarshi Bhagyachandra (1764-1789) and the process was accelerated by the
Manipuri-Burma war. After the war with Burma, Manipur was ruled by the Burmese invaders for about
seven years. During that period, King Chourajit Singh accompanied by a large following of Manipuri
subjects moved to areas - now in Bangladesh.
The
Tripura
The Tripuras are another large ethnic group in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region. At present they
live in CHT, especially in Ramgarh and Khagrachhari. It is also believed that Tripuras currently living in
Bangladesh originally came from the Indian state of Tripura. The number of Tripuras in CHT areas was
close to 80,000 in 1991, and it has no doubt increased considerably by this time.

4. The Marma
The Marmas are the second largest ethnic minority in Bangladesh. Most Marmas live in the three hill
districts of Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachari. Some Marmas, however, live in the coastal districts
of Cox's Bazar and Patuakhali.
The
Hajong
This ethnic group has been living for many generations in the hilly parts of Mymehsingh district. Some of
them also live in the Sherpur, Sylhet and Netrokona regions.
The
Chakma
The Chakmas are the largest ethnic tribal minority in Bangladesh. They are concentrated in the central
and northern parts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts where they live amidst several other ethnic groups.
According to the 1991 population census, there were about 2,53,000 Chakmas. More than 90 percent of
them are concentrated in Rangamati and Khagrachhari districts.
The
Rakhain
The Rakhain, belonging to the Bhotbarmi community of the Mongoloids, came from the land Rakhain
Pre, which is now known as Arakan in Myanmar. The word Rakhain originates from the word Rakshan,
which means the people who preserve and safeguard their heritage and culture.

5. The
Tanchyanga
The Tanchyanga are a small ethnic community living in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. In terms of population
they rank 5th among the ethnic communities of Bangladesh. According to the 1991 census, their number
was 21,057 and the number of Tanchyanga households was 4,043.
The
Murong
Murongs are one of the famous tribes of aborigines of Arakan and two Murong Kings ruled Arakan in the
tenth century AD. Murongs live in Lama, Ruma, Alikadam and Thanchi upazilas near Chimbuk Mountain
of Bandarban district.
Food habits of the people of hill area of Bangladesh
Bamboo shoot is a traditional food of the hill people. They call it "Bajchuri" .And Shrimp paste is
their traditional ingredient of cooking. They call it "Sidol". The staple food of the hill people is
rice, supplemented by millet, corn (maize), vegetables, and mustard. Vegetables include yams,
pumpkins, melons, and cucumbers. Vegetables and fruit gathered from the forest may be added
to the diet. Fish, poultry, and meat (even pork) are eaten, despite the Buddhist taboo on
consuming animal flesh. Traditional diets have slowly been abandoned, as the hill people have
been forced to flee their homeland. Some typical hill people dishes include fish, vegetables, and
spices stuffed into a length of bamboo and cooked in a low fire; foods wrapped in banana
leaves and placed beside a fire; and eggs that are aged until they are rotten.

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Language, Religion and Culture of the people of hill
area of Bangladesh.
Language:
The people of hill area are Originally the speaking a language belonging to the Tibeto-Burman family,
some of the hill peoples have been influenced by neighbouring Chittagonian, an Eastern Indo-Aryan
language closely related to Assamese. Many linguists now consider the modern Chakma language part of
the Eastern Indo-Aryan language. Changma Vaj is written in its own script, the Chakma script, also
known as is written in an alphabet which allowing for its cursive form, is almost identical with the Khmer
and the Lanna (Chiangmai) characters, which was formerly in use in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and
southern parts of Burma.
Religion:
The people of hill area vast majority of the Chakma,marma Tripura, khashia etc
are followers of Theravada Buddhism, a religion that they have been practising for centuries.
However, their form of Buddhism has aspects of Hinduism and traditional religions as well.
Foreign and local missionaries have been trying to convert the chakma to Christianity. This has
created resentment among the Chakmas, marmas, tripuras and others.
Some of them r also follow Christian, hindu and othere religion.
Culture: The people of hill area have with their own and different culture, folklore,
literature and traditions. The most of women of them wear an ankle length cloth around the waist
which is also called Phinon and also a Haadi wrapped above the waist as well as silver
ornaments. The Phinon and the Haadi are colourfully hand weaved with various designs. The
design is first embroidered on a piece of cloth known as Alaam.
ConclusionNon-Bengalis—consisting primarily of smaller indigenous groups—constitute
only a tiny fraction of the population. Most of these peoples inhabit the Chittagong Hill Tracts in the
southeast, the most sparsely settled area of the country. Some of the groups are related to the peoples of
Myanmar (Burma), and many follow Buddhism, although both Hinduism and Christianity also have a.