Ethnic groups in Bangladesh

Bangladesh's tribal population consisted of 897,828 persons, just over 1 percent of the total population, at the time of the 1981 census. The Bangladeshi population is relatively homogeneous and consists of about 98% ethnic Bengali as well as various tribal groups, mostly in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and in the regions of Mymensingh, Sylhet, and Rajshahi. The majority of the tribal population (778,425) lived in rural areas, where many practiced shifting cultivation. Most tribal people were of SinoTibetan descent and had distinctive Mongoloid features. They spoke Tibeto-Burman languages. In the mid-1980s, the percentage distribution of tribal population by religion was Hindu 24, Buddhist 44, Christian 13, and others 19.

Bengali people

Bengalis are the largest ethnic group in Bangladesh, forming more than 98% of the entire population.

Urdu speaking people

There are about 300,000 Urdu-speaking people in Bangladesh, considered as refugees from the 1947 religious riots in Eastern India. They were Muslims and sought refuge in East Pakistan, and were granted Pakistani citizenship. However, this status became disputed once East Pakistan seceded to become Bangladesh. They are casually referred to as Biharis (because most of them are from the Indian state of Bihar); a formal term is "Stranded Pakistani".

The Chakmas

The Chakmas are the largest tribe of Bangladesh. The Chakmas are of mixed origin but reflect more Bengali influence than any other tribe. The Chakmas generally lived in the highland valleys. Most Chakmas are Buddhists, but some practice Hinduism or animism.

The Chakmas ( Chakma or ), also known as the Changma (চাংমা), are a community that inhabits the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh and the North-East India. The Chakmas are the largest ethnic group in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, making up more than half the tribal population. Chakmas are divided into 46 clans or Gozas. A tribal group called Tangchangya (তঞ্চংগ্যা) are also considered to be a branch of the Chakma people. Both tribes speak the same language, have the same customs and culture, and profess the same religion, Theravada Buddhism.

The Marmas (or Maghs)

The Marmas are of Burmese (Myanmar) ancestry. The Marmas regarded Burma (Myanmar) as the center of their cultural life. Members of the Marma tribe dislike the more widely used term Maghs, which had come to mean pirates. The Marmas also live in the highland valleys. Although several religions, including Islam, are represented among the Marmas, nearly all of the Marmas are Buddhists.

The Tipperas (or Tipras)

The Tipperas are nearly all Hindus and account for virtually the entire Hindu population of the Chittagong Hills. They had migrated gradually from the northern Chittagong Hills. The northern Tipperas were influenced by Bengali culture.

The Mros (Mrus or Moorangs).

The Mros are considered the original inhabitants of the Chittagong Hills. They lived on valleys and often fortified their villages. They had no written language of their own, but some could read the Burmese and Bangla scripts. Most of them claimed to be Buddhists, but their religious practices were largely animistic.

Other Tribes

There are some other tribal groups in other parts of the country. Santals are inhabitants of Rajshahi and Dinajpur. Khasis, Garos, and Khajons in Mymensingh and Sylhet regions.

Different tribal groups differed in their social organization, marriage customs, foods, birth and death and other social customs from the people of the rest of the country. They have somehow managed to resist centuries of colonization and in the process have retained their own customs, traditions and life. Bangladesh also has the Mughal Tribe.

References

•  This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook document "2006 edition".
•  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Department of State (Background Notes).