Ethnic groups in the Chittagong Hill Tracts
Ethnic groups in Bangladesh
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The Chittagong Hill Tracts is a region consisting three hilly districts of the south-eastern part of Bangladesh – Khagrachari, Bandarban, and Rangamati – adjoining international boundaries with Myanmar on the southeast, the Indian states of Tripura on the north and Mizoram on the east. It is an extensively hilly area and home to a variety of tribal peoples in the country, which makes up almost 49% of the total population of the region.
In Bangladesh, there are many indigenous peoples living in the other parts of the country, but the majority of these peoples live in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region. Among all of them, the Chakmas are the largest, followed by the Marmas and the Tripuris. Also a good number of mainstream Bengalis live in this area.
The indigenous peoples of CHT has maintain their unique and different lifestyle from the mainstream Bengali population of the country.[2] Most of these ethnic groups are matriarchal. Their agricultural system is based on grow Jhum cultivation. Some of those groups are still engaged hunting with bows and arrows.[citation needed]
Bengalis
According to 2022 census, Bengalis are the largest ethnic group in Bandarban District (58.85%) and Khagrachhari District (51.07%) and second largest in Rangamati Hill District (42.42%) with almost equal to Chakma people (42.67%) .
They are largest ethnic group in Naikhongchhari Upazila (83.48%), Langadu Upazila(76.75%), Lama Upazila (76.22%), Matiranga Upazila (75.10%), Manikchhari Upazila (73.57%), Ramgarh Upazila (73.14%), Alikadam Upazila (60.64%), Bandarban Sadar Upazila (56.97%), Kaptai Upazila (55.31%), Rangamati Sadar Upazila (52.33%), Kaukhali Upazila (44.88%) and Khagrachhari Sadar Upazila (40.77%).
Chakmas
According to 2022 census, Chakmas are the largest ethnic group in Rangamati Hill District (42.67%) and second largest in Khagrachhari District (24.53%).
They are the largest ethnic group in Juraichhari Upazila (91.15%), Naniarchar Upazila(79.89%), Barkal Upazila (69.33%), Bagaichhari Upazila (66.19%), Dighinala Upazila (53.38%), Lakshmichhari Upazila(51.33%), Panchhari Upazila (44.04%) and Mahalchhari Upazila (43.52%).
Marmas
According to 2022 census, Marmas are Second largest ethnic group in Bandarban District (17.49%), third largest in Rangamati Hill District (7.93%) and fourth largest in Khagrachhari District (10.39%).
They are largest ethnic group in Rowangchhari Upazila, Guimara Upazila, Rajasthali Upazila, Thanchi Upazila, Ruma Upazila.
Tripuris
According to 2022 census, Tripuras are mainly found in Khagrachhari District (13.79%), Bandarban District (4.69%) and Rangamati Hill District(1.90%).
They are the second largest ethnic group in Matiranga Upazila (18.68%) and Ramgarh Upazila (13.28%).
| Upazila | District | Percentage of Tripura [3][4] | Unions with majority | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanchi Upazila | Bandarban District | 21.27% |
| |
| Khagrachhari Sadar Upazila | Khagrachhari District | 20.99% |
| |
| Panchhari Upazila | Khagrachhari District | 19.36% |
| |
| Guimara Upazila | Khagrachhari District | 18.79% | ||
| Matiranga Upazila | Khagrachhari District | 18.68% |
| |
| Ramgarh Upazila | Khagrachhari District | 13.28% | ||
| Ruma Upazila | Bandarban District | 8.95% | ||
| Rajasthali Upazila | Rangamati District | 8.16% | ||
| Rowangchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 7.73% | ||
| Dighinala Upazila | Khagrachhari District | 7.38% | ||
| Belaichhari Upazila | Rangamati District | 6.08% | ||
| Manikchhari Upazila | Khagrachhari District | 5.60% | ||
| Alikadam Upazila | Bandarban District | 5.41% | ||
| Baghaichhari Upazila | Rangamati District | 5.13% | ||
| Lama Upazila | Bandarban District | 4.12% | ||
| Mahalchhari Upazila | Khagrachhari District | 3.97% | ||
| Bandarban Sadar Upazila | Bandarban District | 1.59% | ||
| Rangamati Sadar Upazila | Rangamati District | 1.50% | ||
| Others | <1% | |||
Mrus
According to 2022 census, Mru (Murong) are mainly found in Bandarban District(10.69%).
They are the second largest ethnic group in Alikadam Upazila(23.77%), Thanchi Upazila (23.57%) and Ruma Upazila (22%).
| Upazila | District | Percentage of Mru[3][4] | Unions with majority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alikadam Upazila | Bandarban District | 23.77% |
|
| Thanchi Upazila | Bandarban District | 23.57% |
|
| Ruma Upazila | Bandarban District | 22.00% |
|
| Lama Upazila | Bandarban District | 7.72% | |
| Bandarban Sadar Upazila | Bandarban District | 6.55% |
|
| Rowangchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 6.08% | |
| Naikhongchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 3.08% | |
Tanchangyas
According to 2022 census, Tanchangyas are mainly found in Rangamati Hill District(4.31%) and Bandarban District (3.09%).
They are the largest ethnic group in Belaichhari Upazila (38.77%) and second largest in Rowangchhari Upazila (14.39%).
| Upazila | District | Percentage of Tanchangya [3][4] | Union with majority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belaichhari Upazila | Rangamati District | 38.77% |
|
| Rajasthali Upazila | Rangamati District | 16.30% |
|
| Rowangchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 14.39% | |
| Kaptai Upazila | Rangamati District | 12.42% |
|
| Bandarban Sadar Upazila | Bandarban District | 5.05% | |
| Naikhongchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 3.77% | |
| Juraichhari Upazila | Rangamati District | 3.33% | |
| Alikadam Upazila | Bandarban District | 3.10% | |
| Rangamati Sadar Upazila | Rangamati District | 2.38% | |
| Kaukhali Upazila | Rangamati District | 1.02% | |
| Others | <1% | ||
Boms
According to 2022 census, there are 12,311 Bom in CHT. Among them, 11854 (96.29%) Boms live in Bandarban District, constituting 2.46% of district's population.
They are third largest ethnic groups in Ruma Upazila(19.89%).
| Upazila | District | Percentage of Bom [3][4] |
|---|---|---|
| Ruma Upazila | Bandarban District | 19.89% |
| Rowangchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 6.79% |
| Bandarban Sadar Upazila | Bandarban District | 2.47% |
| Thanchi Upazila | Bandarban District | 2.30% |
| Belaichhari Upazila | Rangamati District | 1.21% |
| Others | <1% | |
Others
Khyang
According to 2022 census, there are 4,176 Khyang in Chittagong hill tracts. Almost 60%(2502) khyang live in Bandarban District and other 40%(1670) in Rangamati district. They form 5.10% in Rajasthali Upazila, 2.35% in Rowangchhari Upazila, 1.21% in Thanchi Upazila, 1.18% in Bandarban Sadar Upazila and <1% in neighboring Upazila's.[citation needed]
Chak
According to 2022 census, There are 2,725 Chak people in Chittagong Hill tract. Almost entire 2662(97.69%) Chaks live in Bandarban District and more specifically 2,329(85.29%) Chaks live in Naikhongchhari Upazila, constituting 3.05% of Upazila's population.[citation needed]
Khumi
According to 2022 census, there are 3,291 Khumi people in Chittagong hill tracts. Almost entire 3287(98.68%) khumis live in Bandarban District. They form 6.14% in Thanchi Upazila, 2.74% in Ruma Upazila, 1.57% in Rowangchhari Upazila and <1% in neighboring Upazila's.[citation needed]
Pankho
According to 2022 census, there are 1,458 Pankho people in Chittagong hill tracts. Almost entire 1,398(95.88%) Pankhos live in Rangamati district. They form 1.21% in Belaichhari Upazila.[citation needed]
Lushei
According to 2022 census, there are 216 Lushei people in Chittagong hill tracts. Their population is in Rangamati district 147, Bandarban District 58 and Khagrachhari district 11.[citation needed]
Religion
Islam remains the largest religion in the CHT, predominantly followed by the Bengalis. But indigenous peoples are mainly followers of Buddhism (41.74%). According to the 2022 Bangladesh census, the percentages of Muslims are: Bandarban 52.68%, Khagrachari 46.56% and Rangamati 36.22%. Most of the Christian population is in Bandarban (9.78% of the population). Khagrachari (0.62%) and Rangamati (1.32%) have only small numbers.[1]
- Islam (44.5%)
- Buddhism (41.7%)
- Hinduism (9.18%)
- Christianity (3.26%)
- Other (1.30%)
Islam
According to 2022 census, Islam is the largest religion in Bandarban District(52.68%), Khagrachhari district(46.59%) and the second largest in Rangamati district(36.26%).
Buddhism
According to 2022 census, Buddhism is the largest religion in Rangamati Hill District (57.25%) and second largest in Khagrachhari District (35.93%) and Bandarban District(29.53%).
Hinduism
According to 2022 census, Hinduism is third largest religion in Khagrachhari district(16.76%), Rangamati district(5.11%) and fourth largest in Bandarban District(3.43%). Hinduism is the second largest religion in all other districts of Bangladesh except CHT.
Christianity
According to 2022 census, Christianity is third largest religion in Bandarban District(9.78%), fourth largest religion in Rangamati district(1.32%) and Khagrachhari district(0.62%).
| Upazila | District | Percent Christian[5][6][7] |
|---|---|---|
| Ruma Upazila | Bandarban District | 37.32% |
| Thanchi Upazila | Bandarban District | 34.43% |
| Rowangchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 17.83% |
| Rajasthali Upazila | Rangamati Hill District | 10.83% |
| Belaichhari Upazila | Rangamati Hill District | 9.60% |
| Alikadam Upazila | Bandarban District | 6.51% |
| Lama Upazila | Bandarban District | 6.24% |
| Bandarban Sadar Upazila | Bandarban District | 5.83% |
| Khagrachhari Sadar Upazila | Khagrachhari District | 1.75% |
| Kaptai Upazila | Rangamati Hill District | 1.02% |
| Others | <1% | |