Bandarban (Bengali: বান্দরবান) is a district in South-Eastern Bangladesh, and a part of the Chittagong Division.[6] It is one of the three hill districts of Bangladesh and a part of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the others being Rangamati District and Khagrachhari District. Bandarban district (4,479 km2) is not only the most remote district of the country, but also the least populous (population 388,000).[7] There is an army contingent at Bandarban Cantonment.
Bandarban
বান্দরবান | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 21°48′N 92°24′E / 21.800°N 92.400°E | |
Country | Bangladesh |
Division | Chittagong Division |
As a District | 18 April 1981 |
Capital | Bandarban |
Government | |
• Type | District Council |
• Body | Bandarban Hill District Council |
• Deputy Commissioner | Yasmin Parvin Tibriji[1] |
• Chief Executive Officer | A. T. M. Kawser Hossain[2] |
Area | |
• Total | 4,479.03 km2 (1,729.36 sq mi) |
Population | |
• Total | 481,106 |
• Density | 110/km2 (280/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+06:00 (BST) |
Postal code | 4600 |
Area code | 0361 |
ISO 3166 code | BD-01 |
HDI (2019) | 0.574[5] medium · 19th of 20 |
Website | bandarban |
Demographics
editYear | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
---|---|---|
1974 | 116,426 | — |
1981 | 171,478 | +5.69% |
1991 | 230,569 | +3.01% |
2001 | 298,120 | +2.60% |
2011 | 388,335 | +2.68% |
2022 | 481,106 | +1.97% |
Sources:[4][8][3] |
According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Bandarban District had 106,065 households and a population of 481,106 with an average 4.41 people per household. Among the population, 110,625 (22.99%) inhabitants were under 10 years of age. The population density was 107 people per km2. The literacy rate (age 7 and over) was 63.74%, compared to the national average of 74.80%. The sex ratio of the district was at 105 males for 100 females. Approximately, 40.41% of the population lived in urban areas.[4][3]
As per the 2022 census, there were 283,123 (58.85%) Bengalis and 197,983 (41.15%) indigenous people in the district.[9][3] The population of major ethnic minorities living in the district besides the Bengalis, including: Marma 84,170, Mro/Murong 51,448, Tripura 22,572, Tanchangya 14,889, Bom 11,854, Chakma 3,712, Khumi 3,287, Chak 2662, Khyang 2502.
Bengali in Bandarban
editAccording to 2022 census, Bengalis are the largest ethnic group in Bandarban District(58.85%).
They are largest ethnic group in Naikhongchhari Upazila (83.48%), Lama Upazila (76.22%), Alikadam Upazila (60.64%) and Bandarban Sadar Upazila (56.97%).
Upazila | District | Percentage of Bengali [10] |
---|---|---|
Naikhongchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 83.48% |
Lama Upazila | Bandarban District | 76.22% |
Alikadam Upazila | Bandarban District | 60.64% |
Bandarban Sadar Upazila | Bandarban District | 56.97% |
Ruma Upazila | Bandarban District | 13.02% |
Thanchi Upazila | Bandarban District | 12.38% |
Rowangchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 10.51% |
Marma in Bandarban
editAccording to 2022 census, Marmas are Second largest ethnic group in Bandarban District(17.49%).
They are the largest ethnic group in Rowangchhari Upazila (49.48%),Thanchi Upazila (31.37%) and Ruma Upazila (31.04%).
Upazila | District | Percentage of Marma[10] |
---|---|---|
Rowangchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 49.48% |
Thanchi Upazila | Bandarban District | 31.37% |
Ruma Upazila | Bandarban District | 31.04% |
Bandarban Sadar Upazila | Bandarban District | 23.97% |
Lama Upazila | Bandarban District | 11.32% |
Naikhongchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 6.15% |
Alikadam Upazila | Bandarban District | 6.04% |
Mru in Bandarban
editThe Mru, also known as Murong, who are famous for their music and dance. The Mru in major numbers have converted to the youngest religion in Bangladesh – Khrama (or Crama) – a religion that prohibits much of their old ways.
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%).
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 | Population | Percentage of Mru[12] |
---|---|---|
Alikadam Upazila | 15,168 | 23.77% |
Thanchi Upazila | 7,021 | 23.57% |
Ruma Upazila | 7,157 | 22.00% |
Lama Upazila | 10,781 | 7.72% |
Bandarban Sadar Upazila | 7,280 | 6.55% |
Rowangchhari Upazila | 1,685 | 6.08% |
Naikhongchhari Upazila | 2,356 | 3.08% |
Tripura in Bandarban
editAccording to 2022 census, Tripuras are fourth largest ethnic group in Bandarban District(4.69%).
Upazila | Population | Percentage of Tripura [10] |
---|---|---|
Thanchi Upazila | 6,336 | 21.27% |
Ruma Upazila | 2,913 | 8.95% |
Rowangchhari Upazila | 2,143 | 7.73% |
Alikadam Upazila | 3,452 | 5.41% |
Lama Upazila | 5,755 | 4.12% |
Bandarban Sadar Upazila | 1,771 | 1.59% |
Naikhongchhari Upazila | 202 | 0.26% |
Tanchangya in Bandarban
editAccording to 2022 census, Tanchangyas are the fifthth largest ethnic group in Bandarban District(3.09%).
They are the second largest ethnic group in Rowangchhari Upazila (14.39%).
Upazila | Population | Percentage of Tanchangya[12] |
---|---|---|
Rowangchhari Upazila | 3,990 | 14.39% |
Bandarban Sadar Upazila | 5,605 | 5.05% |
Naikhongchhari Upazila | 2,881 | 3.77% |
Alikadam Upazila | 1,977 | 3.10% |
Others | <100 | <1% |
Bom in Bandarban
editAccording 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 | Population | Percentage of Bom[12] |
---|---|---|
Ruma Upazila | 6,470 | 19.89% |
Rowangchhari Upazila | 1,882 | 6.79% |
Bandarban Sadar Upazila | 2,748 | 2.47% |
Thanchi Upazila | 685 | 2.30% |
Others | <100 | <1% |
Chakma in Bandarban
editAccording to 2022 census, there are 3,713 Chakma in Bandarban district.
Upazila | Population | Percentage of Bom[12] | |
---|---|---|---|
Bandarban Sadar Upazila | 1,664 | 1.49% | |
Alikadam Upazila | 574 | 0.90% | |
Thanchi Upazila | 488 | 1.64% | |
Lama Upazila | 355 | 0.25% | |
Ruma Upazila | 305 | 0.94% | |
Rowangchhari Upazila | 191 | 0.69% | |
Naikhongchhari Upazila | 135 | 0.18% | |
Others | <100 |
Khumi in Bandarban
editAccording to 2022 census, there are 3,287 khumis in Bandarban district.
Upazila | Population | Percentage of Bom[12] |
---|---|---|
Thanchi Upazila | 1,829 | 6.14% |
Ruma Upazila | 890 | 2.74% |
Rowangchhari Upazila | 436 | 1.57% |
Others | <100 |
Chak in Bandarban
editAccording to 2022 census, There are 2,662 in Bandarban district.
They are mainly concentrated in Naikhongchhari Upazila, constituting 3.05%(2,329) of Upazila's population.
Khyang in Bandarban
editAccording to 2022 census, there are 1,670 khyang in Bandarban district .
Upazila | Population | Percentage of Bom[12] |
---|---|---|
Bandarban Sadar Upazila | 1,310 | 1.18% |
Rowangchhari Upazila | 652 | 2.35 |
Thanchi Upazila | 359 | 1.20% |
Ruma Upazila | 158 | 0.49% |
Others | <100 |
Religion
editReligion | Population (1941)[13]: 104–105 | Percentage (1941) | Population (2022)[9] | Percentage (2022) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tribal[b] | 57,793 | 94.50% | N/A | N/A |
Islam | 2,595 | 4.24% | 253,756 | 52.74% |
Buddhism | --- | --- | 142,057 | 29.53% |
Hinduism | 369 | 0.60% | 16,501 | 3.43% |
Christianity | 0 | 0.00% | 47,054 | 9.78% |
Others [c] | 399 | 0.65% | 21,738 | 4.52% |
Total Population | 61,156 | 100% | 481,106 | 100% |
The religious composition of the population in 2022 was 52.74% Muslim, 29.53% Buddhist, 9.78% Christian, 3.43% Hindu and 4.52% others.[9] Religious institutions is Mosque 2,070, Buddhist 1500 (256 temples, 644 pagodas), Hindu temple 194 and Church 2.[14]
Islam
editAccording to 2022 census, Islam is the largest religion in Bandarban District(52.74%).
Upazila | District | Percentage of Islam[3] |
---|---|---|
Naikhongchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 79.38% |
Lama Upazila | Bandarban District | 71.65% |
Alikadam Upazila | Bandarban District | 54.71% |
Bandarban Sadar Upazila | Bandarban District | 45.77% |
Thanchi Upazila | Bandarban District | 8.80% |
Rowangchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 7.87% |
Ruma Upazila | Bandarban District | 7.38% |
Buddhism
editAccording to 2022 census, Buddhism is the second largest in Bandarban District(29.53%).
Upazila | District | Percentage of Buddhism[3] |
---|---|---|
Rowangchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 67.58% |
Thanchi Upazila | Bandarban District | 42.34% |
Ruma Upazila | Bandarban District | 36.80% |
Bandarban Sadar Upazila | Bandarban District | 36.49% |
Alikadam Upazila | Bandarban District | 30.54% |
Naikhongchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 19.41% |
Lama Upazila | Bandarban District | 17.09% |
Christianity
editAccording to 2022 census, Christianity is third largest religion in Bandarban district(9.78%).
Upazila | District | Percentage of Christianity[3] |
---|---|---|
Ruma Upazila | Bandarban District | 37.32% |
Thanchi Upazila | Bandarban District | 34.43% |
Rowangchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 17.83% |
Alikadam Upazila | Bandarban District | 6.51% |
Lama Upazila | Bandarban District | 6.24% |
Bandarban Sadar Upazila | Bandarban District | 5.83% |
Naikhongchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 0.49% |
Hinduism
editAccording to 2022 census, Hinduism is third largest religion in Khagrachhari district(16.76%), Rangamati district(5.11%) and fourth largest in Bandarban district(3.43%). Hinduism is the second largest religion in all other districts of Bangladesh except CHT.
Upazila | District | Percentage of Hinduism [3] |
---|---|---|
Bandarban Sadar Upazila | Bandarban District | 7.85% |
Alikadam Upazila | Bandarban District | 3.03% |
Lama Upazila | Bandarban District | 2.92% |
Ruma Upazila | Bandarban District | 1.71% |
Thanchi Upazila | Bandarban District | 1.55% |
Rowangchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 0.76% |
Naikhongchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 0.70% |
Subdistricts
editTourism
editThe India - Myanmar Sabroom - Cox's Bazar railway link has been proposed to connect Sabroom - Khargachari - Rangamati - Bandarban - Satkania - Cox's Bazar and another rail link connecting Bandarban to Tuipang, India.
Bandarban lies, by bus, eight hours away from Dhaka, two hours from Chittagong and three hours from Cox's Bazar. It is also possible to get there by a six-hour bus ride from Rangamati. The Buddha Dhatu Jadi, the Buddhist temple in Bangladesh, located in Balaghata, 4 km from the town. This place attracts many tourists every year. This Theravada Buddhist temple is made completely in the style of South-East Asia and houses the second largest statue of the Buddha in Bangladesh. The waterfall named Shoilo Propat at Milanchari is another place tourists like to visit. The numerous Buddhist temples, known as kyang in local tongue, and bhihars in the town include the highly notable the Rajvihar (royal vihar) at Jadipara and the Ujanipara Bhihar. Bawm villages around Chimbuk, and Mru villages a little further off, are also lie within a day's journey from the town. Prantik Lake, Jibannagar and Kyachlong Lake are some more places of interest. Boat ride on the river Shangu is one of the main attractions here for tourists.
Starting on January 7, 2015 the Home Ministry has enforced the provision of "no free passes" for foreigners visiting the three Chittagong Hill Tracts districts – Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban. As a result, foreigners need to submit an application to the Home Ministry a month ahead for their scheduled visit.[15]
Notable persons
editNotes
edit- ^ Bandarban, Ruma, Lama and Nakhyngchari thanas of Chittagong Hill Tracts district
- ^ 'Tribal' was used as a blanket term for religious traditions of all tribes, and many of these tribes followed a more mainstream religion.
- ^ Including Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Ad-Dharmis, or not stated
References
edit- ^ "List of Deputy Commissioners". Archived from the original on 8 November 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
- ^ "Bandarban District Hill Council". Bangladesh National Portal. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Population and Housing Census 2022 - District Report: Bandarban (PDF). District Series. Dhaka: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. June 2024. ISBN 978-984-475-276-4.
- ^ a b c Population and Housing Census 2022: Preliminary Report. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. August 2022. pp. viii, 29, 38, 45. ISBN 978-984-35-2977-0.
- ^ "Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ Rahman, Atikur (2012). "Bandarban District". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
- ^ Chowdhury, Sifatul Quader (2012). "Chittagong Hill Tracts". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
- ^ "Bangladesh Population and Housing Census 2011 Zila Report – Bandarban" (PDF). bbs.gov.bd. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
- ^ a b c d "Population Census 2022: A CHT demographic analysis – parbattanews : E…". 26 August 2024. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d https://bbs.portal.gov.bd/site/page/b432a7e5-8b4d-4dac-a76c-a9be4e85828c
- ^ https://en.parbattanews.com/population-census-2022-a-cht-demographic-analysis/
- ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference
বাংলাদেশ পরিসংখ্যান ব্যুরো
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Census of India, 1941 Volume VI Bengal Province" (PDF).
- ^ "Is this the Bangladesh we wanted? Analyzing the Hindu Population Gap (2001-2011)". 12 April 2014.
- ^ Tanzimuddin Khan, Mohammad (12 June 2015). "Securitisation of tourism in CHT". New Age. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
Further reading
edit- Lonely Planet Bangladesh (Lonely Planet Bangladesh) by Richard Plunkett, et al.
- "Lonely Planet".
- Identity Politics in Central Asia and the Muslim World (Library of International Relations *Vol. 13) by Willem van Schendel (Editor), Erik J. Zurcher (Editor)
- Deforestation, Environment, and Sustainable Development: A Comparative Analysis by Dhirendra K. Vajpeyi (Editor)
- Minorities, Peoples And Self-determination: Essays in Honour of Patrick Thornberry by Nazila Ghanea (Editor)
- Brauns, Claus-Dieter, "The Mrus: Peaceful Hillfolk of Bangladesh", National Geographic Magazine, February 1973, Vol 143, No 1
External links
edit- Bandarban travel guide from Wikivoyage
- Bandarban District mapped on OpenStreetMap, retrieved 29 December 2021.
- Chittagong Hill Tracts mapped on OpenStreetMap, retrieved 29 December 2021. (inset are its three districts: Khagrachari, Rangamaai, and Bandarban)
- Indigenous People of Bangladesh (archived 2008)
- Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (archived 2006)