Ethnic groups in the Chittagong Hill Tracts

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. 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.

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%).

Upazila District Percentage of population speaking Bengali Naikhongchhari UpazilaBandarban District83.48%Langadu Upazila Rangamati Hill District 80.84%Lama UpazilaBandarban District 76.22%Matiranga Upazila Khagrachhari District76.01%Manikchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District 73.57%Ramgarh UpazilaKhagrachhari District 73.14%Alikadam UpazilaBandarban District 60.64%Bandarban Sadar UpazilaBandarban District 56.97%Kaptai UpazilaRangamati Hill District 55.71%Rangamati Sadar UpazilaRangamati Hill District 52.33%Kaukhali UpazilaRangamati Hill District 44.88% Khagrachhari Sadar UpazilaKhagrachhari District 40.77%Dighinala UpazilaKhagrachhari District 39.00%Mahalchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District 36.95%Panchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District 33.02%Guimara UpazilaKhagrachhari District 33.02%Rajasthali UpazilaRangamati Hill District 32.33%Barkal UpazilaRangamati Hill District 28.96%Bagaichhari UpazilaRangamati Hill District 28.23%Lakshmichhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District 25.76%Naniarchar UpazilaRangamati Hill District 18.27%Belaichhari UpazilaRangamati Hill District 15.87%Ruma UpazilaBandarban District 13.02%Thanchi UpazilaBandarban District 12.38%Rowangchhari UpazilaBandarban District 10.51%Juraichhari UpazilaRangamati Hill District 4.65%

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%).

Upazila District Percentage of ChakmaJuraichhari UpazilaRangamati Hill District 91.15%Naniarchar UpazilaRangamati Hill District 79.89%Barkal UpazilaRangamati Hill District 69.33%Bagaichhari UpazilaRangamati Hill District 66.19%Dighinala UpazilaKhagrachhari District 53.38%Lakshmichhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District 51.33%Panchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District 44.04%Mahalchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District 43.52%Rangamati Sadar UpazilaRangamati Hill District 41.23%Khagrachhari Sadar UpazilaKhagrachhari District 27.13%Belaichhari UpazilaRangamati Hill District 26.68%Kaukhali UpazilaRangamati Hill District 25.92% Guimara UpazilaKhagrachhari District 7.37%Matiranga Upazila Khagrachhari District3.12%Ramgarh UpazilaKhagrachhari District 2.77%Langadu Upazila Rangamati Hill District 2.31%Kaptai UpazilaRangamati Hill District 2.25%Manikchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District 1.93%Thanchi UpazilaBandarban District 1.67%Bandarban Sadar UpazilaBandarban District 1.49%Others _ <1%

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.

Upazila District Percentage of MarmUnions with majority Rowangchhari UpazilaBandarban District 49.48%Alekkhyong Union Nowapatang Union Rowangchhari Union Tarachha UnionGuimara UpazilaKhagrachhari District 38.10%Sindukchhari UnionRajasthali UpazilaRangamati Hill District 36.65%Gaindya UnionThanchi UpazilaBandarban District 31.37%Balipara Union Remakri UnionRuma UpazilaBandarban District 31.04%Paindu Union Ruma UnionKaptai UpazilaRangamati Hill District 28.59%Chitmaram UnionKaukhali UpazilaRangamati Hill District 27.86%Bandarban Sadar UpazilaBandarban District 23.97%Jamchhari Union Kuhalong Union Rajbila UnionLakshmichhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District 21.82%Manikchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District 18.73%Mahalchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District 15.25%Lama UpazilaBandarban District 11.32%Khagrachhari Sadar UpazilaKhagrachhari District 10.86%Ramgarh UpazilaKhagrachhari District 10.61%Belaichhari UpazilaRangamati Hill District 8.97%Naikhongchhari UpazilaBandarban District6.15%Alikadam UpazilaBandarban District 6.04%Panchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District 3.12%Matiranga Upazila Khagrachhari District2.07%Rangamati Sadar UpazilaRangamati Hill District 1.88%Naniarchar UpazilaRangamati Hill District 1.73%Others _<1%

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 Unions with majority Thanchi UpazilaBandarban District 21.27%Tindu unionKhagrachhari Sadar UpazilaKhagrachhari District 20.99%Khagrachhari union Bhaibonchhara union Perachhara unionPanchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District 19.36%Latiban unionGuimara UpazilaKhagrachhari District 18.79%Matiranga Upazila Khagrachhari District18.68%Matiranga unionRamgarh UpazilaKhagrachhari District 13.28%Ruma UpazilaBandarban District 8.95%Rajasthali UpazilaRangamati District 8.16%Rowangchhari UpazilaBandarban District 7.73%Dighinala UpazilaKhagrachhari District 7.38%Belaichhari UpazilaRangamati District 6.08%Manikchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District 5.60%Alikadam UpazilaBandarban District 5.41%Baghaichhari UpazilaRangamati District 5.13%Lama UpazilaBandarban District 4.12%Mahalchhari UpazilaKhagrachhari District 3.97%Bandarban Sadar UpazilaBandarban District 1.59%Rangamati Sadar UpazilaRangamati 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 Unions with majority Alikadam UpazilaBandarban District 23.77%Kurukpata unionThanchi UpazilaBandarban District 23.57%Thanchi unionRuma UpazilaBandarban District 22.00%Galengya Union Lama UpazilaBandarban District 7.72%Bandarban Sadar UpazilaBandarban District 6.55%Tankabati unionRowangchhari UpazilaBandarban District 6.08%Naikhongchhari UpazilaBandarban 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 Union with majority Belaichhari UpazilaRangamati District 38.77%Farua Union Rajasthali UpazilaRangamati District 16.30%Ghilachhari unionRowangchhari UpazilaBandarban District 14.39%Kaptai UpazilaRangamati District 12.42%Wagga unionBandarban Sadar UpazilaBandarban District 5.05%Naikhongchhari UpazilaBandarban District 3.77%Juraichhari UpazilaRangamati District 3.33%Alikadam UpazilaBandarban District 3.10%Rangamati Sadar UpazilaRangamati District 2.38%Kaukhali UpazilaRangamati 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 Ruma UpazilaBandarban District 19.89%Rowangchhari UpazilaBandarban District 6.79%Bandarban Sadar UpazilaBandarban District2.47%Thanchi UpazilaBandarban District 2.30%Belaichhari UpazilaRangamati 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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%).