Abstract
The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of southeastern Bangladesh is the most isolated and geographically unique region of the country, with its hilly composition, vast valleys, cascading streams, and rivers. It is also home to at least 11 indigenous communities, each with its distinct language, culture, and traditions, and a large quantity of Bengali settler population. Since the beginning, there has been tension between the indigenous communities and the Bengali settler community residing in CHT. Now, this tense situation is becoming more and more intense with each passing year, where you almost can’t have a conversation about CHT without discussing ethnic conflict. Therefore, we need to look for ways out of the current juncture. During my visit to CHT, I found that a lack of understanding between the two entities and unsatisfactory implementation of the 1997 peace accord is causing distrust and frustrations among the ethnic groups, leading them toward increased ethnic violence and eradicating the likelihood of peace further from this hilly region. Therefore, we have to look for ways to foster understanding between the indigenous communities and settler community, in order to create a sense of interconnectedness among them which, in turn, will persuade them to overcome their differences and sympathize with one another. In addition, the unimplemented clauses of the Peace Accord should be implemented as soon as possible to regain indigenous populations' trust and to give them a sense of security on their own ancestral land.
Highlights
Bangladesh is a South Asian country, which is constantly going through various changes and catastrophes, especially in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region because of its diverse ethnic composition and unique geographical features
As my goal was to find some kind of formula that could reduce hostility between Bengalis and the indigenous populations living in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) and make their co-existence harmonic, I wanted to talk to members belonging to both tribal and Bengali communities
Not every member of indigenous communities is aware of what the Peace Accord says. Their statement is that the accord was supposed to return their ancestral land, rehabilitate populations who were displaced during the civil war, remove military force from their grounds (The Peace Accord, 1997) and bring a sense of peace and stability to the Hill Tracts
Summary
Bangladesh is a South Asian country, which is constantly going through various changes and catastrophes, especially in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region because of its diverse ethnic composition and unique geographical features. This region is endured with natural resources and has borders with India and Myanmar. Bengalis started migrating and living in CHT since the British colonizers bought this previously uncharted area under taxation Those Bengalis and the indigenous populations seem to live in relative coherence until the government initiatives migrated flocks of Bengalis to CHT after the birth of Bangladesh in 1971, who are referred to as ‘Settler Bengalis’.
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