Term paper

Bangladesh Studies
Course Code: GED 1103
Topic : Tribal People of Bangladesh
Department : BBA GENERAL

Submitted to:
Brigadier General Shafaat Ahmed,
Ph.D., ndc, psc (retd)

Submitted by:
Group-19
1: Raisha khan- 2123011003
2: Mujib Mahabob Joty - 2123011111
3: Asif Ahmed Chowdhury-2123011157
4: Sadat Shahriar- 2123011159

Submission Date: January 11, 2022

TRIBAL/INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
IN BANGLADESH
 Abstract

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Brig. Gen.(rtrd) Shafaat Ahmed, Ph.D., ndc,
psc; sir, our esteemed professor, for providing us with the chance to write this report and for
assisting us in learning more about the tribal people of bangladesh . It was a fantastic experience
for us. We conducted our own study and gleaned a lot of material from previous publications and
studies. We gathered the necessary information and then collaborated on this term paper. Each of
us was in charge of a different section. As a result, we had enough time to gain a thorough
understanding of each medium. We learned how important the role of tribal people in bangladesh
.

We also listened to what our elders had to say. We'd also like to express our gratitude to our
seniors for their assistance in preparing this report.
Above all, we want to express our gratitude to the Great Almighty, the author of all wisdom and
knowledge.
Table of contents
 Introduction
 History of tribal people of Bangladesh
 TYPES OF TRIBAL PEOPLE OF BANGLADESH
 Chakma Tribe
 Marma Tribe
 Santal Tribe
 Tripura Tribe
 Jainita Tribe
 Khashia Tribe
 The Bawm and Pankhu Tribe
 Chak Tribe
 Rakhaine tribe
 Garo Tribe
 Tanchangya Tribe
 Khyang Tribe

 Mru Tribe
 Lushai tribe
 Khyang Tribe
 Conclusion
Introduction
Many tribal people live in Bangladesh. The Chittagong hill tracts are home to the majority of the
population. The indigenous people's way of life is incredibly fascinating. The bulk of them are
Buddhists, with Christians and animists making up the remainder. Despite their religious ties,
primal aspects are prominent in their rites, rituals, and everyday life. The tribal families are poor
in terms of material possessions. Women are more hardworking than men and make up the
majority of the workforce. Tribal people are fiercely independent. They raise their own food,
their girls wear their own clothes, and they live a modest life in general. Every tribe has its
unique speech, clothing, and ceremonies and customs. Their style of life is something they all
have in common. still mentions their primary employment. Some of them take great satisfaction
in bow and arrow hunting. Tribal women are extremely talented at creating exquisite handicrafts.
Tribal people are often peaceful, honest, and welcoming. A tourist is frequently greeted with a
smile.

History of tribal people of Bangladesh:

The term tribe is used to describe a type of human social group in a variety of circumstances.
The term is disputed, in part because of differing theoretical understandings of social and kinship
systems, and in part because of the difficulty in applying this idea to such a wide range of human
societies. Tribes may have legal recognition and some political autonomy from the national or
federal government in some circumstances, however this juridical understanding of the term may
contradict with anthropological definitions.

Tribe is a modern English word that comes from the Middle English word tribu, which comes
from the Latin word tribus. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, it is unclear whether
this form is a result of borrowing directly from Latin (the Middle English plural tribuz 1250 may
be a direct representation of Latin plural tribs) or if it is a result of borrowing from a Romance
language source (such as Old French tribu).

Most surviving tribes, according to anthropologist Morton Fried, have their origins in pre-state
bands rather than pre-state tribes. States would encourage (or demand) individuals on their
borders to form more clearly delimited and centralized polities, because such polities might start
earning surpluses and taxes, as well as having a leadership responsive to the people.

They make form a significant minority community in India and Bangladesh, accounting for 8.6% of
India's population and 1.1 percent of Bangladesh's, respectively, or 104.2 million people in India and
2 million people in Bangladesh .In Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya
Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Northeast India, as well as the
Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India, and Feni, Khagrachari, Bandarban, Rangamati, and Cox's
Bazar, Adivasi societies are particularly prominent.

Despite claims to be one of India's first inhabitants, many modern-day Adivasi communities arose
after the collapse of the Indus Valley Civilisation, with varying degrees of ancestry from ancient
hunter-gatherers, the Indus Valley Civilisation, Indo-Aryan, Austroasiatic, and Tibeto-Burman
language speakers.

Fig: Tribal people of Bangladesh

TYPES OF TRIBAL PEOPLE OF BANGLADESH
It's important to note that Bangladesh has 27 tribal tribes, according to the Bangladesh Statistics Bureau.
The Chittagong Hill Tracts, Sylhet Division, Rajshahi Division, and Mymensingh District are where they
live. In Bangladesh, the Chakma ethnic group is the largest, while the Marma ethnic group is the second
largest.

Fig: types of tribal people of bangladesh

Indigenous people are self-sufficient to a large extent. They prefer a simple existence. They, on the
other hand, manufacture the majority of basic necessities like food and clothing. The majority of
tribal people can communicate in two languages: their own and the state's (dialect). According to the
communities, they have their own rites and customs. They even wear different clothes. The women
are skilled in weaving fabrics, preparing traditional communal foods, and observing their own
culture. They have a simple life, seeking serenity and being accepting in general. In each difficult
moment, they stick together.

Chakma tribe:
The Chakma (Changma) are Bangladesh's largest tribal group. In this country, there are around 444,748
people. Tripura, Assam, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and Burma are also home to the Chakmas
(Myanmar). They are predominantly found in Bangladesh's Chittagong Hilly Areas (Rangamati,
Bandarban, and Khagrachari), as well as Cox's Bazar. The Mongoloid people, who live in Southwestern
Burma, are the originators of Chakma. They converse in both their native language (Arakanese — an
Indo-European language) and Bengali. They have a very rich culture and tradition among the indigenous
people.

The Chakma people of Bangladesh are more inventive and adaptable than any other tribal group. In their
educational institute, they follow the Bangla and English curricula.

They can also communicate in their native tongue. Younger generations are regarded to be less interested
in their native language. It is thought that the Chakma originally lived in Champaknagar, and the name of
the community comes from this word. Though it is widely assumed that they originated in Arakan,
Burma, between the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

Fig: chakma girls in traditional dress

The Buddhist religion is followed by the people of Chakma. Bamboo is used to construct Chakma
dwellings in the traditional manner. They have also been influenced by modern architecture in recent
years. Agriculture is their only source of income. They raise a variety of crops using the environmentally
beneficial "Jhum farming" approach. This community's ladies dress in Pinon and Khadi produced by
themselves. The Dhuti is mostly worn by guys. Furthermore, in their local language, they have their own
script. Even ancient religious texts in palm leaves are inscribed in this language.

Marma tribe
The Marma Tribe (also known as Moghs or Maghs) is Bangladesh's second largest tribal community.
There are approximately 210,000 of them. They inhabit in Bangladesh's Chittagong Hills region
(particularly Bandarban, Khagrachari, and Rangamati Hill Districts, as well as Cox's Bazar and
Patuakhali). Some of them continue to live in Tripura, India, and Myanmar. Marmas descends from
Burmese (Myanmar) ancestors. As a result, they live a cultural life similar to Burmese, and their clothes
and script are likewise Burmese. A long time ago, a group of marma tribes known as the Jhumia Marmas
lived in the southeastern portion of Bengal. Another Marma tribe, known as Rakhaing Marma, arrived
from Arakan around the end of the 18th century.

Fig: marma water festival

The Bengali culture has had a significant impact on the Marma Tribe. They converse in both the
Arakanese dialect and Bengali languages. They practice animistic Buddhism as their faith. They rely on
plow agriculture to survive. The Marma Tribe's culture is distinct in general. They have distinct clothing,
eating habits, songs, musical instruments, and religious beliefs. They have their own festivals that they
celebrate. Sangrai is the largest. It is a holiday commemorating the Buddhist lunar calendar's New Year.
The Water Festival is another name for it. During the festivities, they splash each other. They think that
by immersing themselves in water, their sorrows will be washed away and their minds and bodies will be
cleansed.

Santal tribe
The Santals are another of Bangladesh's oldest and largest indigenous groups. The Rajshahi and Rangpur
divisions are home to the most of them. The Santals, on the other hand, dwell in India, Myanmar, and
Nepal. According to figures from 2001, the total number of Santals in Bangladesh is around 3 lac. They
communicate in Santali (Austroasiatic/Munda). This tribe has been around for thousands of years.
Santhal, Saonta, Saonthal, and Saunta are other names for them. The Santals believe they descended from
the children of the first human, the Peelchu Buro and the Peelchu Buri, who had seven pairs of children.
The Santals are separated into seven groups for this reason. In the Santali language, these tribes are
known as Parris. The Santals are now split.

Fig: santal tribes are biggest tribe in india(calender,22)

The Santals have a diverse cultural heritage. They believe in various Gods, depending on which sect they
belong to. Sari Dharam, Sarnaism, Hinduism, and Christianity, for example. Marang Buru or Bonga is
Santal's Supreme Deity. They are very simple people that enjoy spending time in outdoors. The Santals
are now urging their children to attend school. They adore festivals and other forms of entertainment.
Sohrai is one of their most important festivities. They also celebrate Baha, Karam, Dansai, and a variety
of other holidays. The Santals' dance is extremely famous among indigenous people.
They believe in patriarchy on a social level. The son inherits the entire estate, and the father can give his
daughter a piece of it if he so desires. Otherwise, the girl will be left empty-handed. They are unable to
marry within the clans.

Tripura tribe
The Tripuras inhabit primarily in the Chittagong Hilly Areas' Khagrachari District. In addition, a small
population of Tripuras live in Comilla, Noakhali, Chandpur, and Moulavibazar. In Bangladesh, this
neighborhood has a population of approximately one million people. They are now proud citizens of the
United States of America. Tripura, on the other hand, is a state in India. In the state of Tripura, the sum is
approximately half a million rupees. When the Indian subcontinent was partitioned into Bangladesh and
Pakistan in 1949, the small state of Tripura was placed under Bangladesh (East Pakistan).

Tripura is organized into 36 clans or dofas, or sub-groups. The Gurpai, Jomatia, Dendak, Tongpai,
Gorjong, Khakulu, Gaigra, and Murasing are well-known among them.

Fig: tripura wedding

Tripurabda is the Tripura community's calendar. It predates the Bengali and the Gregorian Calendars. The
Tripurabda is 590 years younger than the Gregorian Calendar and 300 years older than the Bangabda,
according to the scholars. The community's culture is quite distinct. Tripuras from both India and
Bangladesh have a culture that is nearly same. Happily, the literacy rate is much higher than that of other
Bangladeshi indigenous people. Graduation rates are also on the rise. Because they are not fluent in
Bengali, they will have difficulty gaining admission to the educational institution. Even so, they are
tackling the circumstance one day at a tiTribe
Jaintia tribe
The Jaintia Tribe lives in the northern area of Sylhet Division. They are also familiar as Synteng or Pnar.
In 1947, after the division of Bengal, most of them leave this country. Very few of them stays in
Bangladesh and now they are living in the Jaintiapur Upazila. In Bangladesh, they are only Twenty
Thousand, though the total population is nearly 3 lac (2011) in India. They are from the Mongoloids. It is
also thought that they are from the same origin as the Khasi Tribe. But there have no documents regarding
this without the physical structure.

Jaintia people believe in Hinduism. Though they have no temple for praying to their gods. They tell the
god can realize the soul without any decoration. Their main occupation is agriculture. They cultivate
various types of crops including betel leaves and nuts. Important to realize, they are matriarchal. That
means the child will grow up with the title of the mother’s clan. The girls get the full property of their
family. Another key point, it is completely prohibited Intra tribal marriage. They follow the rule of chief
panchayet. The community elects the chief of the panchayat.

Fig: jaintia tribe festival

The Khashia Tribe

Khasi ethnicity is one of Bangladesh's oldest among the country's minority groups. "To Nangrei," which
means "Keep on Progressing," is their Unitarian slogan. This motto reflects their ancestors' desire to
maintain a developing civilization. Around 2012-2013, I conducted research on the Khasi (indigenous
people) in a village called Notun songram punjee in Gowainghat thana of Sylhet district. The Khasi tribe,
which is found in India and Bangladesh, is recognized for its matrilineal lifestyle, in which women are the
primary breadwinners in the household. In India, there are around one million Khasis, and around 30,000
in Bangladesh, mostly in the northeastern Sylhet Division. According to their tradition, the groom has to
live in the bride's house after getting married. They call themselves Ki Hynñiew trep, which means "the
seven huts" in the Khasi language.

Their language Khasi is the northernmost Austro-Asiatic language. The Khasis are better off financially
than the other Bangladeshi indigenous minority groups. They are not your average socially disadvantaged
ethnic group in our area. The Khasi people's primary religion is Christianity (Presbyterian, Anglican, and
Roman Catholic). They pay homage to U Blei Nong-thaw, the greatest creator Goddess. The goddess is
regarded as a savior from every adversity. Ka Niam Tynrai is a religion practiced by Khasis. Nongkrem
(also known as Ka Pomblang Nongkrem) is the Khasis' most important celebration, which takes place
every November. Another important Khasi celebration is Shad Suk Mynsiem. Though the Khasi people
do not have any formal cultural programs, they celebrated "Borodin" on December 25th in a grand
manner. Khasi traditional costumes include DharaJainsem, Jymphong, and Saksin. The females wear
DharaJainsem, while the males wear Jymphong..

Fig: khashi tribe

The Bawm and Pankhu Tribe

The Bawm and Pankhu tribes were descended from two brothers who were members of a Lushai tribe. In
1869, they had a population of around 3,000 people. They owed the Bohmang chief their fealty and paid
him tribute through their elected headman. The Bawms and Pankhus say they are descendants of Burma's
"Shan" people. They used to be a violent people who lived on the peaks of mountains. Their villages were
fiercely fortified and patrolled. After the British conquest, they lost their military capabilities.They
believed in animism. "Pathian" and "khozing" were their major gods. However, most of them converted
to Christianity as a result of missionary activity during the British rule.

figure:the Bawm tribe in the Chittagong Hill Tracts

Their language is strikingly similar to Lushai's. It's a member of the "Kuki-Chin" clan. The Pankhus and
Bawms can be distinguished by their hairstyles. The Bawms knot their hair in the center of their heads,
both men and women. On the other hand, the Pankhus tie their hair at the back of their heads. The
Pangkhua construct their homes on the crests of hills. Their dwellings are constructed of bamboo, wood,
and tin. Their major source of income is jhum (slash-and-burn shifting cultivation), however some of
them are now employed by local NGOs. Younger people are growing more educated than their elders.

The Chak Tribe

The Chak is regarded as a sub-group of the Chakma. However, according to Loffler, the Saks of Arakan
and the Chaks of CHT are descended from the same people as the Chakmas. The Chaks are known as
"Asak," and the Sak population of Arakan is also known as "Asak." Their language is similar to Kadu,
which is spoken in Myanmar's Myitkhyina area, as well as Andro and Sengmai, which are spoken in
India's Manipur district. There are two sects of Chaks: Ando and Ngarek. They belong to the Buddhist
faith. Throughout the year, they hold numerous religious and folk festivals. Their civilization is
patriarchal, and there are three types of families. The family property is only passed down to the sons.
The government picks the community's headman based on his or her ability and hereditary right, and the
headman receives a stipend from the government.

The Chak lifestyle is traditionally agro-based, and they are strongly associated with both jhum and plain
field production.The Chak people's way of life is vibrant and traditional, especially when it comes to
festivals and ceremonies relating to marriage, childbirth, death, and funerals. They believe in
reincarnation, and their birth, death, and marriage rituals are all exceedingly exclusive. They speak a
language from the Tibet-Burman branch of the Sino-Tebetean language family called 'Sak' or 'Lai.'

Rakhaine tribe
The Rakhain are an ethnic community from arakan who migrated to Bangladesh in late 18th
century and settled in the coastal districts of cox's bazar and patuakhali. It is believed that they
were the inhabitants of ancient kingdom of Magadha and later migrated to Rokhong,
Rokhaingpi, Arkhang, Rosang, Rakhainpray or Arakan.There is a small community of Rakhine
people inhabiting the coastal areas of Patuakhali, Borguna and Cox's Bazar, having migrated to
Bangladesh from Myanmar before the formation of these two contemporary countries. The total
population of the community as of 2020 is 16,000. The Rakhine are predominantly Theravada Buddhists
and are one of the four main Buddhist ethnic groups of Burma . They claim to be one of the first groups to
become followers of Gautama Buddha in Southeast Asia. The Rakhine culture is similar to the dominant
Burmese culture but with more Indian influence. The Rakhine language is closely related to and generally
mutually intelligible with Burmese.The Rakhine people and the local Bengali population developed a unique
dialect through which they could communicate. The Rakhine people were able to preserve their culture,
language, and religion in Bengal. Rakhines observe Rakhine festival such as Sanggreng and Nai-chai ka.

Garo Tribe
Garo, The an ethnic group in Bangladesh belonging to Bodo sub-sect of the Tibeti-Burman sect
of Mongoloid race. They also live in the Indian state of Meghalaya. The present population size
of Garo in Bangladesh is 150,000.The highest numbers of Garo in Bangladesh are located in
Sylhet, Rangpur, Moulovibazar and Gazipur. The antecedent home of the Garo is located in the
Xinjiang province, north-west of China.Almost all the traditions, cultural customs and language
are passed down from generation to generation, leaving nearly no trace of the Garo Tribe on
paper.The staple food of Garo is rice.They take it with fish and meat curry, lentils and
vegetables.Dried fish is their most favourite dish.Garos have become habituated to cook
and eat as their Bangali neighbours.Beside their traditional nakham vegetables, they
have become fond of smashed and fried vegetables, pulse, fish and meat. The dresses
of Garo are now nearly similar to those of the Bangalis.Most Garos are now Christians
in faith.They started to embrace Christianity by the end of the 19th century when the
Christian missionaries came to their settlements.

Manipuri Tribe
The Manipuri people are of Mongolian descent and speak a language called Meithei. Most Manipuri
people lived in northeastern India. The Manipuri fled from their homeland in the northeastern Indian
kingdom of Manipur to settle in East Bengal, which was then ruled by Britain. However, in 1947 East
Bengal gained its independence and today most Manipuri people live in the district of Sylhet of
northeastern Bangladesh. According to the 1991 Population Census, there are about
25,000 Manipuris in Bangladesh. Of them about 13,000 are in Maulvi Bazar, 7,000 in
Sylhet and 4,000 in Habiganj. Historically, Manipuris are grouped into seven yek or
salais. These are Ningthauja, Luwang, Khuman, Moirang, Angom, Chenglei and Khaba-
Nganba.In contrast to the flat plains of Bangladesh, the district of Sylhet is characterized by rolling
hills and is famous for its tea plantations and lush tropical forests. Most of the Manipuri peoples are
farmers and they have a succeeded in growing crops of rice, sugarcane, tobacco, oranges and
pineapples.The Manipuri, according to their custom, do not eat meat, but they do eat fish. Manipuri
people are primitive in that they still wash their clothes and bathe in the rivers. Their huts of mud and
reeds are commonly built near the river’s edge.The manipuri people always marry within their clan.

Tanchangya Tribe
According to the Census 1991 there were 19,221 in the chittagong . Most of the
Tanchangya live on the borders between the Rangamati and Chittagong districts
between the borders of the Rangamati and Bandarban districts. A small number of
Tanchangya also live in Cox's Bazar district. In Arakanese, the word "Taung" or "Tong
means hill and "Taungya" means hilltop swidden cultivation known locally as Jum. The
word Tanchangya or Tongtongya is believed to mean hill swidden farmer. They were
first among the people in chittagong to take up wet-rice cultivation by the plow in lieu of
swidden cultivation. Today there are many graduates, both men, and women, holding
private and government jobs. Women will always wear her turban, which Chakma
women used until a generation or two ago. The pattern on the border or her homespun
skirt will usually be far more intricate than the Chakma skirt

Khumi Tribe
The Khumis , are a community inhabiting in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. The Khumis are
one of smallest ethnic groups in Bangladesh with a population of only 1214 according to the 1991 census
(in the census of 1981 their population was recorded as 1258), though there are another 120,000 across
the border in Burma. Among the ethnic groups in Chittagong Hill Tracts the Khumis were the war like
people.[1] Earlier they were very often engaged in internecine or intertrinal warfare with the Bawms and
the Mros. The Khumis used to live in Arakan; when there was fierce battle between them and the Mros,
the latter being defeated fled to Chittagong Hill Tracts. But later the Khumis themselves entered
Chittagong Hill Tracts after being defeated by a more powerful tribe.Now the Khumis live in Ruma and
Thanchi areas of Bandarban District. The Khumis are animists. The men keep long hair and tie it into a
tuft on the head. They are dependent on shifting cultivation. Only in 1995 did one of their members
passed Secondary School Certificate examination.

Figure: Festival of khumi tribe

Mru Tribe
The Mru also known as the Mro, Murong, Taung Mro, Mrung, and Mrucha, refer to the tribes
who live in the border regions between Myanmar (Burma), Bangladesh, and India. The Mru are
a sub-group of the Chin people, a few of whom live in western Myanmar. They are also found in
the northern Rakhine State. In Bangladesh, they reside in the Chittagong Hills in southeast
Bangladesh, primarily in Bandarban District and Rangamati Hill District. In India, they reside in
West Bengal.The Mru people are divided into five distinct linguistic and cultural sub-groups: the
Anok, Tshüngma, Dömrong, Dopteng, and Rümma.The Mru of Bangladesh and Myanmar are
known as the Mro, Mrucha and Taung-Mro, respectively.The Mru claim that their ancestors lived
at the source of the Kaladan River, but are unsure about when their people migrated to the
region. They have no division of different exogamous clans or groups of clans, nor do they have
a chieftain class or a ruling class.

The origin of the Mru (Mrucha) people cannot be fully depicted without including the Khami
(Khumi) people. Due to frequent invasions by the Shandu and subsequent colonization by the
British, the Khumi left their homeland. They emigrated to the hilly regions of the Kaladan River
headwaters, and to the Pi Chaung and the Mi Chaung streams in the Arakan Hill Tracts where
another group of Khami (Khumi), the Mru and Khumi, lived.According to legend, the hilly region
was once ruled by Nga Maung Kadon, who built the barriers which form the waterfalls in all the
streams and tributaries connected to the Kalapanzin River. He did this to prevent the escape of
a crocodile that had kidnapped his wife.The Khumi tribe defeated the Mrus and ousted them
from Arakan. They moved to the Chittagong Hill Tracts some times between the 17th and 18th
centuries. Many however believe that this happened in the 14th century. Mrus living in the
district of Khagrachari are in fact a clan of the Tripura. There is a linguistic affinity between the
two groups of people. In the Indian state of Tripura, the counterparts of Mrus are known as
Riangs. However, on many occasions, Mrus are contemptuously called Mro-Dang or
Myawktong, meaning lower type of animal being. But Mrus introduce themselves as Mro-cha.
The word Mru means man and cha stands for being. The two main streams that flow through
Saingdin are Re Chaung in the east and Sit Chaung in the west. Both streams originate from
the northern part of the region which forms the boundary between Buthidaung Township and the
Arakan Hill Tracts. The two streams meander between cliffs for 48 km (30 mi) before they finally
join near Tharaungchaung village. The two streams flood during the monsoon season and
normally subside after the rains. Water transportation is difficult due to large rocks obstructing
the streams. Canoes and bamboo rafts are the only means of transportation to the interior area
of the region.[5] On the sloping banks of the two streams, the Mru grow tobacco in the alluvial
deposits after clearing naturally grown kaing grass. They also grow cotton, cane, and bamboo to
sell in a weekly bazaar near the waterfall.
Figure: Mro tribe

Lushai tribe
Lushai is another tribe under Kuki-chin group of tribes. Their main concentration is under
Kanchanpur Sub-Division of North Tripura District. Lushai’s are commonly known as Mizos.
Racially they are known to be under Mongoliod origin. In Tripura they are 5,384 persons (as per
2011 Census). Their culture is akin to the Mizos. Lushais mostly reside in Jampui Hills area of
Tripura.Lushai live on Jhum Cultivation and hunting of wild animal. They eat meat of any kind of
animals and birds. They are also famous as orange producing community. At some point of time
Lushais were known as Head Hunter community. During 1st part of 19th century most of the
Lushai’s converted to Christianity and still follow Christianity as their religion.
Their Cheraw Dance (Bamboo Dance) is very much popular in and outside the country. Literacy
rate among them comparatively is higher then that of other minor tribes of Tripura . A large
number among them could be found in Govt. jobs and other economic fields.

Figure: Lushai tribe

Khyang Tribe
Kheyang is the exonym of the Hyow. There Kheyang or the Hyow (খিয়াং), are a group of
indigenous people inhabiting in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh and the Rakhine State
of Myanmar. The word Kheyang originated in khlɔng (see VanBik, 2009: 3–4), which means
person in the language. The endonym Hyow means Chin. The Khyang are one of the smallest
ethnic groups in Bangladesh with a population of only 2,345 according to the 1991 census. At
present, the approximate number of the Khyang in Bangladesh is 4500. They live in Kaptai and
Chandraghona in Rangamati Hill District and in Bandarban Sadar, Thanchi and Rowangcchari
upazila in Bandarban District. In Myanmar, they live in the Myebon, Minbya and Ann townships
of the Rakhine State. According to Kheyang Chronicles, the Khyangs[2] with their King entered
Chittagong Hill Tracts[citation needed] when their kingdom in Burma was overrun by the
Burmese. But afterwards the King decided to go back to Burma. But his younger queen being
pregnant could not accompany him. Hence she was left behind with some followers and
kinsmen. The present Kheyang are the descendants of this queen and her retinue. However,
the literature of the Burmese history tells that the Kheyang migrated with the Marma from the
southern Myanmar in the late eighteenth century.[3][4] The Kheyang have two groups in
Bangladesh: Laitu and Kongtu. The Kheyang were Buddhists but many converted to Christianity
during the British period. Most Khyang today are under the Mong family or the "Royal Family"
which is from Chandraghona, Rangamati Hill Districts in Bangladesh.

Every Khyang society has a leader who is called ‘Karbari’ or ‘Headman.’ Kheyang society has a
patriarchal structure. The father of a family is the master of the house. If a village lacks a
headman, the villagers unitedly appoint a leader. The leader solves all the disputes that may
develop among the villagers and, thus, helps them live in peace. If a person is accused of any
criminal wrongdoing, the headmantakes steps in line with customary social laws.The accused is
generally punished or forgiven, and the judgement is passed in front of all after measuring the
enormity of the misdeed. Both the male and female of the Kheyang community are very
industrious. Men dominate and especially follow the laws of society.

Figure: Khyang Tribe

Conclusion
Tribes of Bangladesh have a long history. The present tribes who
live in Bangladesh both at the Chittagong and outside, they are all
tribes. Their forefathers helped Bangladesh grow. Bangabandhu,
the Father of Bangladesh did not ignore them. The Government
set up a Ministry for tribal affairs of the Chattogram Hill Tracts
only. This should be for all tribes of Bangladesh, major and minor.
On the other hand, the Tribes of Bangladesh may have their
separate identity and culture, but they are all Bangladeshi by
birth. They share the pleasure and pain of Bangladesh with all
living as proud citizen of the country. This year is the golden
hundred-year birth anniversary of the founding father of
Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The unity, fraternity,
equality and non-communalism will help create a better and brave
Bangladesh.

References
IGWIA.org Indigenous people in Bangladesh
Refworld.org World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous
Peoples - Bangladesh : Adivasis
Thedailystar.net World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous
Peoples - Bangladesh : Adivasis
Ilo.org Building Capacities on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples’
Issues in Bangladesh: Rights and Good Practices
Nijhoom.com 11 major tribes of bangladesh
Wikipedia.com
Banglapedia.org