Journey to Chittagong Hill Tracts

Chittagong Hill Tracts

The Hill Tracts is the largest of Bangladesh's administrative districts, comprising more than 9 percent of the nation's territory; yet, the district's half million inhabitants (1974) represent only a tiny fraction of the nation's 72 million inhabitants. In 1974 the 350,000 "tribal" peoples, encompassing at least twelve ethnic groups, constituted about 70% of the Hill Tracts' population. Two ethnic groups predominate: the Chakmas, concentrated in the district's center, and the Marmas, found in the north and the south. Both of these groups have undergone greater acculturation to dominant South Asian traditions than other ethnic groups in the area. The Marmas retain their Arakanese dialect and are predominantly Buddhist; the Chakma appear long ago to have adopted their own dialect of Bengali, and though commonly described as Buddhists, they have accepted much Hindu ceremonial practice and belief. Under British control the Hill Tracts were made into a separate district in 1860; by special regulation in 1900 the district was declared an "excluded area" under direct control of the Provincial Governor of Bengal. From then on, the three administrative subdivisions of the district were controlled by the major "tribal chiefs" - or rajas. Revenue collecting and dispute settlement functions were allocated to the chiefs/rajas (one Chakma and two Marma), who exercised these roles through a hierarchy of sub-collectors and village headmen.

The Tribal Population of the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh [1960*]

Chakma 125,000

Marma 66,000

Tippera 37,000

Mru 16,000

Tanchangya 8,000

Chaks

This is Gopal Priyo Chakma. I am a traveler. I like to journey by historical places.