Bangladesh is home to more than 54 Indigenous groups, including the Chakma, Marma, and Tripura, with most living in the northern and southeastern flatlands, and the rest in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. They have distinct lifestyles, economic practices, and belief systems. These groups speak at least 35 distinct languages, adding to the country's cultural richness . However, many of these languages are ondangered, as the dominance of Bangla and modern societal pressures push thom towards extinction, a global issue known as "language death." The UN warns that many Indigenous languages are disappearing, with ones. dying every two weeks.

During the British colonial rule indigenous communities played, a significant role in resisting oppression. Leaders like Sidhu and legacy, Kanu lod uprisings, such as the Santhal Rebellion, highlighting their contributions to the anti-colonial struggle. Despite this Indigenous people in Bangladesh today face challenges in preserving their languages and culture. The government's efforts to include Indigenous languages in preschool education face hurdles like a lack of trained teachers and resources for higher education.

Additionally, the 1957 construction of the Kaptai Dam, funded by USAID and built by the Pakistani government, displaced thousands of people in the hill tracts, submerging their homes and farmlands under the Karnaphuli River, disrupting their livelihoods and cultural connections to the land. This history of displacement and ongoing marginalization continues to affect indigenous communities in Bangladesh.

MCQ: 15 CQ: 5

Practice

ডাউনলোড করুন স্যাট একাডেমি অ্যাপ

Our ethnic friends (1)

Key words : ethnic region majority shifting

A Look at the pictures. Then discuss the following questions in pairs.

  Can you tell what it means?

1. What do you see in the picture?
2. What are they called?
3. Who wear them?

Now, look at the pictures. Then discuss the following questions.

1. Do you know where the ethnic people live in Bangladesh?
2. What are they called?

 

B Now, read the text.

The ethnic people in Bangladesh hold a very important place in the culture of the country. The majority of these people live in the Chattogram Hill Tracts. The others live in the regions of Mymensingh, Rajshahi and Sylhet. They live in forest areas, in the hills and in rural areas. They do jhum cultivation. For this work they clear a piece of land in the forest, prepare it and sow seeds in it. They are mostly farmers. By religion they are Hindus, Christians or Buddhists. They speak their own mother tongues. Some of them are the Chakmas, the Marmans, the Tipperas and the Moorangs, who live in the Hill Tracts. The Santals live in Rajshahi. The Khasias and the Monipuries, live in Sylhet and the Hajangs and the Garos in Mymensingh.

 

C True or False? If False, give the correct information.

1. The ethnic people of our country live in the Chattogram Hill Tracts only.
2. Most of them are farmers.
3. By religion all of them are Buddhists.
4. The Moorangs are an ethnic group.
5. They practise jhum cultivation.

 

D Ask and answer the questions in pairs.

1. Where do you find the Marmans?
2. What language do they speak at home?
3. Where and how do they do the Jhum cultivation?