ETHNIC COMMUNITIES

IN BANGLADESH
 Ethnic Community
✓ The "ethnic communities" or "ethnic groups," refer to the people whose linguistic and
cultural backgrounds are different from those of the mainstream population of the
country.
✓ Ethnic community refers to a large group of people existing in a human society whose
members are united with each other on the basis of certain shared social experiences
and characteristics regard themselves as district from other similar groups.
✓ Ethnic group refers to a group of people who live organized in a particular area have
their own language and culture that is district from another ethnic group.
✓ Ethnic groups are noted for distinctive and common characteristics from generation
to generation that are easily marked, based on inherited physical characteristics.
✓ Ethnic groups are usually defined by head shapes, jawline, hair color & type, skin color,
build & height.
✓ They live in a specific geographical area with its own district language and culture
✓ British anthropologist E.B Tylor said his book Dictionary of Anthropology, Ethnic
community is a group distinguished by common culture characteristics.
✓ According to anthropologist Meyer, an ethnic group is a group of people living in a
specific area who have common physical characteristics and who differ from others in
terms of physical characteristics.
The terms "indigenous people," "indigenous ethnic minorities," and "tribal
groups" are used to describe social groups that share similar
characteristics, namely a social and cultural identity that is distinct from
dominant groups in society.
United Nations human rights bodies, ILO, the World Bank and
international law apply four criteria to distinguish indigenous people:
1. Indigenous peoples usually live within (or maintain attachments to)
geographically distinct ancestral territories.
2. They tend to maintain distinct social, economic, and political
institutions within their territories.
3. They typically aspire to remain distinct culturally, geographically and
institutionally, rather than assimilate fully into a national society.
4. They self-identify as indigenous or tribal.
 Ethnic Community in Bangladesh
❖Bangladesh is a country of ethnic and cultural diversity, with more than 50 indigenous
communities speaking at least 35 languages, where 80% of the indigenous peoples live
in plain land districts of the North and South-East of the country, and the rest in the
Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) areas.
❖It is ethnically a diverse country. The intermingling of these ethnic groups has made
the Bengali a hybrid race. Bangladesh is a hybrid ethnic group. This is how the various
ethnic group of Bangladesh have originated. There are ethnic minorities living in
various regions of Bangladesh. By religion, they are mostly Buddhists, Hindus,
Christians and Animists.
❖ The Bengalis owe their origin to the various types of communities that came and
settled in the region at different points of time in history. On the other hand, there are
other smaller ethnic groups of at least 34 spread over the plain land and 11 inhabiting
the three Hill Districts of the country.
❖ Elements of primitiveness are strongly displayed in their rites, rituals and everyday
life.
❖ Their families are matriarchal. The women are more hard-working than males
and they are the main productive force. Their women are very skillful in making
beautiful handicrafts.
❖ The tribal people are extremely self-reliant. They grew their own food, their
girls ware their own cloth who live in a simple life. They are peace-loving,
honest and hospitable.
❖ Each tribe their own dialect, distinctive dress and rites and rituals.
❖ The government recognizes 50 ethnic groups but not does recognize the
concept of indigenous peoples. Notable among them: Chakma, Marmas,
Tripura, Santals, Garos, Manipuri, Khasi People, Hajong, Pongal, Tianchang and
Juantia and Etc.
❖In the broader sense, ethnic minorities can be characterized as groups with
characteristics of being numerically less than the rest of population of the
country; adhering to a culture, a language, a religion, a race, etc., distinct from
the majority of the population with wills to preserve their unique identities.
CHAKMA
 Chakma
Origin
The word Chakma comes from the Sanskrit word Sakthi Maha, which means
powerful & great. The name was given to the Chakma by one of the Burmese
kings during the Bagan Era. The Chakma (Changma) is the largest tribal
community in Bangladesh, known to be a tribe of southeast Asia.
They have first migrated to Arakan Hill of Myanmar and then Chittagong Hill
Tracks of Tripura in the fifteenth to the sixteenth century. Their number is minor
in Rangamati & Khagrachari of Bangladesh. But Chakma also present major in
Bandarban. They are found in Northeast India, West Bengal, Bangladesh and
Myanmar.
Culture
The Chakmas are of mixed origin but reflect more Bengali influence than any
other tribe. They are very innovative and adaptive than any other tribal people in
Bangladesh. Chakma's language is an Indo-Arayna language spoken by the
Chakma. The language has common features with other languages in the region
like the Chattertonian, Tianchang, Arakanese and others.
Religion
The vast majority of Chakmas are Buddhists, and they form the largest
Buddhist population in Bangladesh. Integrated in their Buddhist practice are
older religious elements, such as worship of the powers of nature.
Festival
Chakma's celebrate various Buddhist festival. The most important is Budda
Purnima known as Vesak. It is also known as Budda Birthday worldwide.
This the anniversary of three important events in Buddhas life, his
attainment of enlightenment, and his death. It is observed on the full moon
day of the month of Vaisakha.
One of their annual highlights is the Bizu festival held in Chaitra, the last
month of the Bengali year.
MARMA
 Marma
Origin
The 'Marma' is the second large tribe of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Most probably the word
'Marma' is derived from the Burmese word 'Mraima' which means 'Being born’ or 'myanma',
which means 'Burmese nationals' and is pronounced as marma by the people of the Chittagong
Hill Tracts.
The original land of the Marma tribe was in Pegu of Burma. In 1614 they had settled in the Arakan
of the Chittagong area, which was then almost unpopulated. There is a history of the marma
King's rule in Khagrachari and Bandarban.
Marmas belong to the Mongoloid race. They are relatively short and have prominent
cheekbones. They have yellow complexion, black hairs, small eyes, and snub noses. They speak in
Arakanese dialect and their language is written in Burmese characters.
Culture
In the early days the livelihood of the Marmas depended on 'Jhum' cultivation. In this mode of
cultivation the Marmas first clear the forests along the hill slopes and then dry and burn them
before cultivating the land. This has been the main source of their food and earning their
livelihood. As the production from Jhum cultivation is declining they are now growing fruits and
vegetables, and are doing poultry farming and cottage industries.
In the 'Marma' society both males and females have equal rights on their parental properties.
Women have a prestigious position in society and take equal part in all activities like agriculture,
business and cottage industry. The females, specially the younger generation, love to adorn their
hair with flowers, which is tied into a knot or tuft.
Religion
The Marmas are Buddhists by religion. They observe various Buddhist festivals with great devotion, but
they also worship some traditional gods and goddesses. They believe that their birth, death and all
activities in life take place under the influence of a supernatural power, which they try to satisfy through
their rites and rituals. Animism is also in practice among them. The Buddhist monks play an important role
on many occasions such as, birth and death.
Marriage is a very important part of the social life of Marmas. Cross cousin marriages and monogamy are
predominant features of this society. Polygamy is also allowed. Child marriage is practically forbidden. Pre-
marriage love is common. Both men and women have equal rights to divorce although the final settlement
is to be made in the court of karbari (village leader) or of the headman (mouza or area leader).
Festival
The name of the Marma New Year festival is ' Sangrai'. This is one of their main traditional ceremonies.
They organize this festival on the Bengali new year occasion of month Boishakh. On the occasion of the
New Year, they organize various interesting events in Sangrai. Water festival is one of these events. On that
day, the Marma youths rejoiced by sprinkling water on each other
GAROS
 Garos
Origin
Garo, an ethnic group in Bangladesh belonging to Mongoloid race. They also live in Indian state
of Meghalaya. They live in the districts of Tangail, Jamalpur, Sherpur, Mymensingh, Netrakona,
Sunamganj, Sylhet and Gazipur. The Garos, who call themselves Achiks Monde (the soul of hill).
They think that Garo is an objectionable and inferior word imposed by others to undermine their
social status.
The antecedent home of the Garo is located in the Xinjiang province, north-west of China. They
left that place several thousand years ago and migrated to Tibet. Then they moved again to the
north-eastern Indian Hill tracts and Northern Bangladesh about 4500 years ago. And finally they
migrated to the greater Mymensingh area and established a small feudal kingdom there.
Culture
The Garos have a number of dialects and cultural groups. Each of them originally settled at a
particular area of the Garo Hills and outlying plain lands. The entire Garo society is divided into 13
groups. Beside the 13 groups, the whole Garo community is divided into five major clans. These
are; Sangma, Marak, Momin, Shira and Areng. The marriage institution of Garo is totally
controlled by intercaste system. It prohibits intra-clan marriage.
Garos are only a matrilineal society, but not matriarchal. The individuals take their clan titles
from their mothers. Traditionally, the youngest daughter (nokme·chik) inherits the property
from her mother while the men govern the society and domestic affairs and manages the
property. Sons leave the parents' house at puberty, and are trained in the village bachelor
dormitory (Nokpante). After getting married, the man lives in his wife's house.
Religion
Garo’s traditional religious system, Songsarek, is generally described as animist. In the Garo's old-
religion society only khamal or priests had knowledge about the existence of gods-goddesses and
their role. Khamals are not appointed hereditarily. Anybody having knowledge and quality can be
appointed as khamal. In all religious ceremonies, sacrifices were essential for the propitiation of the
spirits.
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. The members of Garo community
had achieved a remarkable success in attaining higher literacy rate with the support of those
missionaries.

Festivals
The common and regular festivals are those connected with agricultural activities. The biggest
among the Garo festivals is the ‘Wangala’, (is also called the festival of "The Hundred Drums") which
is a celebration of thanksgiving after harvest in which Misi-Saljong, the god who provides mankind
with nature’s bounties and ensures their prosperity, is honored. The celebration varies from village to
village, but usually, the Wangala is celebrated in October-November. Wangala is traditionally
celebrated for two to three days - or up to a week - by two or three collaborating villages; though
recently it has been celebrated for one day in metropolitan areas.
SANTALS
 Santals
Origin
Santals is one of the major ethnic group in Bangladesh who are the descendants of Austric-speaking Proto-Australoid
race. The Santals mainly live in districts of Rajshahi division. Their principal home is in radha (in West Bengal), the
forests of nearby Bihar (Jharkhand) and Orissa, and Chhota Nagpur. Santals are among the earliest settlers of the
subcontinent and are acknowledged as the progenitors and upholders of agricultural system and agro-based culture.
The original home of the Santals is believed to have been the Champa Kingdom of northern Cambodia; their traditions
indicate migration into India by way of Assam and Bengal. In the latter half of the 18th century, the Santals entered the
historical record in 1795 when they are recorded as "Soontars." The British government assigned a special space to
them and called it Santal Pargana. The Santhals would rise up in revolt against the British, a landmark peasant uprising
precipitated by the implementation of the Permanent Land Settlement in 1793.
Religion
In fact, Santal men and women are animistic nature-worshippers, but again they acknowledge Thakurjiu as Creator.
Bonga occupies an important place in their daily worship.The Santal pantheon includes about 150 spirit deities,
generally called bongas. Although the chief god of Santals is the god of the sun (Sing Bonga, in their language), the god
of mountain ' Marang Budu is also dignified enough to have become a village-god.
House-deity Abe-Bonga is also quite a mighty god. Each village has a sacred grove, where benevolent bongas are
found. The forest bongas, on the other hand, are malevolent. Santals believe that soul is immortal and that
supernatural soul (Bonga) determines worldly good and evil. They assume that souls become bongas three generations
after death if they perform the correct rituals.
Culture
Santals Society are patrilineal and strictly endogamous. The Santal society is still ruled by traditional Panchayet
system led by a hereditary headman assisted by a council of elders; and the village headman enjoys special dignity in
the society.
The Santals are divided into 12 clans and 164 subclans. Each village is he also has some religious and ceremonial
functions. Groups of villages are linked together in a larger territorial unit termed a pargana. In common practice,
marriage between a man and a woman of the same gotra is prohibited. But these regulations are not so effective
today. Santal women, especially young girls are by nature very beauty-conscious.
Santals live in a poor life who are hard work and sell their labor at a very low price in tea gardens or elsewhere.
Besides, they dig soil, carry loads, or engage themselves in similar works of day labourers.
Festivals
Santals also have many festive occasions around the year. Their year starts with the month of Falgun (roughly, 15
February-15 March). Almost each month or season has a festival celebrated with the pomp of dances, songs and
music. The Shialsei festival of Santals takes place in the New Year month of Falgun. Life-cycle rituals like initiation,
marriage, and burial are celebrated individually.
Sohrai is a kind of national festival for Santals celebrated with great pomp on the last day of Paush (around 16
January). To express gratitude to the god of crops is also a part of this festival. Most collective rites are related to the
agricultural cycle or to hunting and gathering traditions. The most important among them is the flower festival,
which is also the festival of ancestors. Baha or the festival of blossoms is their another festivals to welcome at the
beginning of spring and offer greetings to the beautiful blossoming of colorful flowers.
KHASHI
 Khasia
Origin
Khasia (or Khasi) is a Mongolite ethnic group is one of the major matriarchal tribes in Bangladesh who
are descended to the Khasia hills and Jaintia hills from Cherapunji and Shilong regions. The Khasi
people who reside in the hilly areas of Sylhet district in Bangladesh. They migrated to Bangladesh from
Assam where they came about five hundred years ago, probably from Tibet. Khasias are short people
with flat noses and mouths, high jaws, and small and straightened black eyes.
The religious feelings, culture, dress and manners of the Khasia today have been moderated
considerably under the influence of modern developments in education, science, technology and
culture. While they are adopting modern life-styles, some primitive traits are still found in them.
Culture
Khasias are strongly attached to their tribal origin and culture. Although at present, they are gentle,
polite and very disciplined, they were known to be aggressive in the past. They are divided into several
matrilineal clans. Khasi women enjoy a high social status and play a significant role in socio-economic
matters and household management. Khasis follow a matrilineal system of inheritance. In the Khasi
society, it is only the youngest daughter or “Ka Khadduh” who is eligible to inherit the ancestral
property. If ‘Ka Khadduh’ dies without any daughter, her next elder sister inherits the ancestral
property, and after her, the youngest daughter of that sister. Failing all daughters and their female
issues, the property goes back to the mother’s sister, mother’s sister’s daughter and so on.
Many Khasi have taken up professions in civil services and in industries besides agriculture. Western
Music and musical instruments are becoming popular among them. Marriage within a clan is a taboo.
Rings or betel-nut bags are exchanged between the bride and the bridegroom to complete the union.
In the Christian families, however, marriage is purely a civil contract.
Religion
Khasias were originally monotheists, who believe that the God first created the universe and then a man
and a woman. Subsequently, the God created gods and goddesses for the purpose of controlling various
aspects of the universe. They also believe in the existence of the god of a village. Moreover, they believe in
the existence of evil spirits and adore nature and animals. The Khasia religion is very old but it has evolved
over time. Traditional customs and superstitious beliefs form the core of their religion.
The changes that have taken place in the Khasia community are most evident in their religious practices.
Recently, some Khasias have been converted to Islam but conversion to Christianity brought about
tremendous changes in the socio-economic structure of their lives. Christian Missionaries began to preach
Christianity among Khasias about one and a half a century ago. At present, more than 80% of the Khasias
are Christians. Almost every punji has its own church. They perform numerous rituals. They do not have any
religious scripture.
They burn the dead body and bury the remains. The priest recites at the funeral: 'Good bye, good bye, You
will chew betel leaf in the kingdom of God’.
Festivals
They perform various kinds of rituals throughout the whole year and pray for the fertility of their land. They
perform khyakhang brata at the time of sowing seeds. Other rituals are pisthol, pirdong and khyaklam.
Marriage is compulsory for Khasia men and is treated a command of God. Celibacy is sinful and cursed. They
dance and sing in a chorus in marriage ceremonies and other regular festivals. They celebrate birth and
death. They are good in dancing and singing.
TRIPURA
 Tripura
Origin
The present Indian state of Tripura is considered as the main abode of ethnic Tripura or Tripuri people. The Tripuris
claim themselves as descendants of the Kayastha caste, originating from the Chandra line. But anthropologically they
belong to the Mongoloid race. In India, the inhabitants of Tripura were termed as Tripuri. During the British rule Tripura
was a native state maintaining internally independent status until it joined the Indian Union in 1949. Some parts of
greater districts of Comilla, Noakhali and Sylhet, the entire Chittagong and Chittagong Hill Tracts region and Akyab
province of Arakan (presently under Myanmar) were within the kingdom of Tripura for several centuries.
With the grant of diwani to the East India Company in 1765, the territory of Tripura state was reduced to only hilly
areas of the region. After the partition of India in 1947, a remarkable segment of Tripuri population acquired
citizenship of the then East Bengal. The majority of the Tripura population of Bangladesh live in the Chittagong Hill
Tracts, Sitakunda and Mirsarai upazila of Chittagong, Bilonia upazila of Noakhali district, Comilla, Chandpur,
Moulavibazar, Srimangol, Rajbari and in Faridpur and Dhaka. Their mother tongue of the Tripuris is Kok-borok. It had
been the state language of Independent Tripura kingdom from 585 to 1949 AD. Kok-borok had lost its state language
status as the kingdom of Tripura after 1949.
Religion
The Manipuri are very religious people, and are believed to have converted to Hinduism in the sixteenth century.
Religiously the Tripuras believe in Hinduism but elements of their pre-Hindu religion still remain today. In the mediaeval
age, Tripura was predominantly a' Hindu state. Now-a-days many Tripuras have been converted to Christianity.
The Manipuri people are also very superstitious and often make their decisions by observing the positions of roosters’
feet based upon an old proverb, “All wisdom derives from a rooster’s foot.”
Culture
The social structure of Tripura nation is patriarchal. Each Tripuri family is headed by the father and in his
absence the eldest son heads the family. There is an exception in some families, where female children
claim superiority over the male members. They use their mothers' family titles. The Tripuris are divided
into 36 clans.
Feasts are arranged in Tripuri society on special occasions through a call, termed as Nimantran (invitation).
The invitation culture in the public life of Tripura is divided into two types. The first one organized to share
and celebrate joyful events like wedding and birthday. others is called 'Pana'. The other invitation is
referred to the feast, known as 'Samoung' organized on the occasion of tragic events, mourning and
painful incidents.
The Tripuris have a rich tradition of folk dance. Songs, dance and music are integral parts of the life,
livelihood and culture of the Tripuris. Jhum cultivation, the traditional method of agricultural production
of Tripuris, is done with the performance of music and dance.
Festivals
Their major festivals, Baishu, Ker, Gomoti, Shibrai, Khachi and Haka are full of variation. The main festival
Baishu is observed following the Tripura calendar. The elements, order, form and content of Baishu
festival are fully influenced by the color and tune of nature.
The festival of Ker worship is held on the first day of the dark fortnight in the month of Taltuk (Shravana of
Shakabda). The Tripura nation regards the river Gomoti as the mother river believed to have a stream of
milk. They worship the river Gomoti, also known as Tripura Sundari, daughter of the hills. The Shibrai puja
is offered on the 14 lunar day of the bright half of the moon in the Tal-snang month of Tripurabda (Falgoon
of Shakabda). A weeklong pilgrimage fair is organized at the Fourteenth Deva Mandir in Agartala, the
capital of Tripura, every year on the occasion of Khachi Puja. On the occasion of Haba puja, the worship of
agriculture, a festival is observed in Tripura on the eve of preparing ground for cultivation.
MANIPURI
 Monipuri
Origin
The Manipuri people are a small and distinctive people of India and Bangladesh. The Manipuri people are of
Mongolian descent and speak a language called Meithei. They originally settled in the Indian state of Manipur,
but when the Burmese army invaded the Indian state of Manipur in the early nineteenth century, some ethnic
groups from there settled in Sylhet. They are called Manipuri because they came to Bangladesh from the Indian
state of Manipur. Although they are known as Manipuri, they have three different nationalities. Maitai
Manipuri, Bishnupriya and Pangan Manipuri.
Manipuris migrated to the Bangladesh area and settled here at different times due to wars, conflicts and other
socio-political reasons. Their migration started during the reign of Rajarshi Bhagyachandra (1764-1789) and the
process was accelerated by the Manipur-Burma War (1819-1825), which is a black chapter in the history of
Manipur. After the war with Burma, Manipur was ruled by the Burmese invaders for about seven years.
Calture
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.
Historically, Manipuris are grouped into seven yek or salais.. Each yek or salai is again divided into many
Shageis. Subsequently, these yek or salais were converted to Vaisnavite sects. Because of its special
geographical location and as a result of several religious and political interactions, Manipur became the melting
point of different ethnic groups and cultures from the time immemorial. This assimilation resulted in the
formation of the modern Meitei people who are now widely known as Manipuri.
Religion
The Manipuri are very religious people, and are believed to have converted
to Hinduism in the eighteenth century. However, elements of their pre-Hindu
religion (called Apokpa) still remain today. They worship the Hindu gods but
also worship many other gods of nature- the snake being one of them. Their
rites and rituals reflect a synthesis of the old and new beliefs. Many Manipuris
now follow the teachings of Islam also. They are known as Meitei Pangon or
Manipuri Muslims. Rites, rituals and beliefs are part and parcel of the day to
day life of Manipuris.
The Manipuri people are also very superstitious and often make their decisions
by observing the positions of roosters’ feet based upon an old proverb, “All
wisdom derives from a rooster’s foot.”
Festivals
Manipuris observe with great grandeur the religious ceremonies of Sanatana
Dharma like Rathayatra, Rasa Purnima, Jhulanjatra and also those of their
traditional culture such as Laiharaoba and Sajibu Chairaoba and worship
household deities such as Sanamahi, Pakangba, and Leimaren. They observe
special religious ceremonies and customary rituals on major occasions of life
such as birth, marriage and death.
 Challenges of Ethnic People in Bangladesh
✓ Problems faced by the indigenous population of Bangladesh may be categorised as follows:
✓ due to their ethnicity, members of indigenous communities face hardship in education, employment, and
everyday life.
✓ Lands of the indigenous peoples have been encroached upon and settled by newcomers. Sometimes
government agencies in the name of development work take over lands from the indigenous people.
✓ All over the north of Bangladesh, indigenous people say they are concerned about what they call
encroachment onto their traditional homelands by Bengali settlers.
✓ Indigenous communities are mostly situated in remote, rural areas, where they lack infrastructure and
access to larger markets.
✓ Indigenous communities have also played a historically important role in environmental protection.
Traditional livelihoods in indigenous communities may depend upon agriculture and raising animals.
Environmental damage, therefore, is having a severe impact on their economies.
✓ Land reform and property laws have restricted some indigenous groups like Khasis at Moulvibazar or Garos
at Modhupur, making their traditional occupations untenable.
✓ As they are mostly marginalized, indigenous and tribal peoples lack clout in national and even in most local
governments, with the limited exception of local governments of Chittagong Hill Districts.
✓ Years of discrimination have cast the indigenous people into poverty, thus further damaging their chances
at empowerment and opportunities to improve their situation. (the Daily Star, July 17, 2008)
 Rights Of Indigenous Peoples In Bangladesh
In 2011 the National Parliament enacted the 15th Amendment to the
Constitution of Bangladesh denying recognition of indigenous people as
full citizens of this country. Article 6(2) of our Constitution states, "The
people of Bangladesh shall be known as Bangalees as a nation and the
citizens of Bangladesh shall be known as Bangladeshis".

The Constitution of Bangladesh ensures affirmative action for indigenous

peoples and prohibits discrimination inter alia on grounds of race, religion
or place of birth, Article 23A of which provides, “the State shall take steps
to protect and develop the unique local culture and tradition of the tribes,
minor races, ethnic sects and communities”.
 International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
An international day observed on 9 August every year. The United Nations
has been celebrating this day worldwide since 1994. Among South Asian
countries, there is a lot of debate about the term Adivasi in Bangladesh.
Although the government of Bangladesh, through the fifteenth
amendment of the constitution, the indigenous people of the country have
been termed as small ethnic group, community or tribe, the indigenous
people of Bangladesh feel comfortable to identify themselves as
indigenous people. The United Nations also uses the term indigenous in its
official work.
 Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord
Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord which is also known as Chittagong Hill Tracts
Agreement, 1997. It is a political agreement and peace agreement signed on 2
December 1997 between the Government of Bangladesh and the Chittagong Hill Tracts
People's Union (PCJSS). The agreement recognizes the rights of the people and tribes
of the Chittagong Hill Tracts and is believed to end decades of insurgency between
peacekeepers and the government.
The agreement recognized the distinct ethnicity and special status of the tribes and
indigenous peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and established a Regional Council
consisting of the local government councils of the three districts of the Hill Tracts.The
council was to be composed by men and women from the Chakma, Marma, Tripura,
Murang and Tanchangya tribes; the delegates would be elected by the district councils
of the Hill Tracts. Elected for a five-year term, the council would have authority and
responsibility to maintain law and order, social justice and tribal laws, oversee general
administration, co-ordinate disaster relief and management, issue licenses for heavy
industries and oversee other development projects. The central government would be
required to consult the regional councils over all issues concerning the Hill Tracts.
The agreement also provided for the setting up of a central Ministry of Tribal Affairs to
be headed by a person of tribal ethnicity to administer the affairs concerning the Hill
Tracts. The agreement also laid out plans for the return of land to displaced natives and
an elaborate land survey to be held in the Hill Tracts.
THANK YOU