The Bangladesh culture and minority affairs

The minority tribes of Bangladesh have over the years faced numerous systemic and traditional challenges. These minority tribes have been scattered on the hilly parts of Bangladesh particularly in the districts of Rangpur, Dinajpur, Rajshahi, Mymensigh, Sylhet and Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs). The known groups under this minority category are the Chakmas, marmas, Marungs, Chaks, Bowns, Pankoos among other tribes. The basic human rights of these groups are violated often. These violations are perpetrated by private companies and even the government agencies and if not then state agencies fail to conclusively investigate the violations. There are other third parties who are involved in the violations like the Bengali settlers, private companies, illegal land grabbers as well as the local administrations.

The minority tribes have seen massive displacements over the years. For the CHT people it can be said that since the 1940s the CHT people have lost their traditional land massively. The construction of the Kaptai Dam in 1960 led to 100,000 ethnic minority people losing their land which totaled to 54,000 acres of productive arable land. This was made worse when the government withdrew the special status of the CHT by amending the CHT Act in 1964. This meant that any external people could come into the region set apart for the CHT displaced minorities. This trend did not change after 1971 independence and more external people kept coming into CHT regions (Chakma N.& Maitrot M.,2016).

The role that the government has played in the problems facing the minority tribes can be referred to as step-motherly, it is aloof and no particular legislative measures have been taken to ensure the minority tribes are well settled and their rights assured. The frequent land conflicts often result in deaths but the government has not shown any focused attempt to solve this issue in the long term perspective. The only obvious efforts were by the Ershad regime in 1990, but that stopped and the successive BNP and Awami League government have not made any efforts in helping the minority tribes.

References

Chakma N.& Maitrot M., (2016). How ethnic minorities became poor and stay poor in Bangladesh: a qualitative enquiry. http://www.shiree.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/34-How-ethnic-minorities-became-poor-and-stay-poor-in-Bangladesh-a-qualitative-enquiry.pdf