Part II.pdf - MTB-MLE Network

a significant number of minority groups live in different parts of the country. They have separate
social, cultural, religious and economic identities, and are easily distinguishable by their different
religious, language, and cultural characteristics. Inter-community administrative and judicial systems,
patterns of marriage, social and family life, and values that they continue to preserve and practise
also contribute to this separate identity. (S. Akhter & M. Kamal)
2. Social Context of Tribal People
The ethnic communities live mostly in the border regions of the country with a numerically larger
Bengali population. Distinctly different from the majority of the country, ethnic communities are
sometimes forced into situations that generate tension and conflict at the cultural, psychological
and economic levels.
Broadly speaking, there are three linguistic families among the tribes in Bangladesh. These are:
• Tibeto-Burmese: All the tribes of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) and the Garos, Kochs,
and Tipras
• Austro-Asiatic or Mon-Khmer: Khasis, Santal, Mundas, and Mahalis
• Dravidians: Oraons, Paharis, etc.
The Chakma and Tanchingya language is a dialect variant of Bengali. The Rajbanshis, Pahari,
Kochs and Pathors have lost their original language, and have been speaking Bengali. Almost all
the tribal people are now bilingual. They have learnt the Bengali language in order to communicate
with wider Bengali society; however, they speak their own language among themselves. The Garos
and Khasis are matrilineal, while other tribes are patrilineal. Though a moiety structure is found
among the Garos, all other tribes have a clan system.
The majority of indigenous peoples in the Barind and north central region are the original inhabitants
of the Chotonagpur Plateau (Ali. A: Santals of Bangladesh, 1996).
The table below shows the linguistic breakdown of the tribal communities in northwestern Bangladesh
that have been working under the ASHRAI literacy project:
Name of the Ethnic Community Language they speak Other Language
1. Santal Santali Can understand
Bangla
2. Oraons
• in Barind Tract Sadri Do
• in Dinajpur Area Kuruk Do
3. Pahans Sadri Mixed Do
4. Mundas Santali Mixed Do
5. Mahatos Sadri
6. Raj Khatriyos or Sing Khatriyos Sadri Mixed Do
7. Rajowars Sadri Mixed Do
8. Mahalis Santali Mixed Do
9. Karmokar Sadri & Hindu Mixed Do
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