Coordinates: 2148N 9224E

Bandarban District
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bandarban (Bengali: ) is a district in South-

Eastern Bangladesh, and a part of the Chittagong Bandarban

Division.[1] It is one of the three districts that make up the
Chittagong Hill Tracts, the others being Rangamati District
District and Khagrachhari District.[2] Bandarban is
regarded as one of the most attractive travel destinations
in Bangladesh. Bandarban (meaning the dam of
monkeys), or in Marma or Arakanese language as "Rwa-
daw Mro" is also known as Arvumi or the Bohmong
Circle (of the rest of the three hill districts Rangamati is
the Chakma Circle, Raja Devasish Roy and Khagrachari
is the Mong Circle, Raja Sachingprue Marma).
Bandarban town is the home town of the Bohmong Chief
(currently King, or Raja, U Cho Prue Marma) who is the
head of the Marma population. It also is the
administrative headquarters of Bandarban district, which Bandarban skyline. From Nilgiri resort.
has turned into one of the most exotic tourist attractions
in Bangladesh.

Contents
1 Geography
2 Bandarban Town
3 History
3.1 British and Pakistani rule
3.2 Since Bangladeshi independence
4 Economy
5 Administration
6 Tourism
7 Ethnographics
8 Member of ninth Jatiyo Sangshad (2009 )
9 Notable persons
10 Gallery
11 Notes Location of Bandarban in Bangladesh
12 References Coordinates: 2148N 9224E
13 External links
Country Bangladesh
Division Chittagong Division

Geography As a District 18 April 1981

Government
One of the three hill districts of Bangladesh and a part of Mayor of Bandarban Mr. Islam Baby
the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bandarban (4,479 km) is not Township
only the remotest district of the country, but also is the Mayor of Lama Mr. Tanvir Hossain
least populated (population 292,900) one. All of the Township
highest peaks of Bangladesh are located at Bandarban Area
district. Their heights measured with Garmin Total 4,479.01 km2
GPSMAP60CSX GPS are as follows: (1,729.36 sq mi)
Population (2011 census)
Tahjindong, also known as bijoy (1280 meters)
 Mowdok Mual (1052 m) Total 388,335
Keokradong (1230 m) Density 87/km2 (220/sq mi)

Raikhiang Lake, the highest lake in Bangladesh is also Literacy rate

found in Bandarban. Chimbuk peak and Boga Lake are Total 43%
two more highly noted features of the district. The newly Time zone BST (UTC+6)
reported highest peak of Bangladesh Saka Haphong Website bandarban.gov.bd
(3488 ft) is also here in Thanchi upazila.

Bandarban Sadar, Thanchi, Lama, Naikhongchhari, Ali kadam, Rowangchhari, and Ruma are the
administrative sub-districts of Bandarban. Major road routes are:

Bandarban-Rowangchhari-Ruma
Bandarban-Chimbuk-Thanchi-Alikadam-Baishari-Dhundhum
Chimbuk-Ruma
Chimbuk-Tangkabati-Baro Aoulia
Aziznagar-Gojalia-Lama and
Khanhat-Dhopachhari-Bandarban.
Meghla Parjatan
Nilachal
Shoila Propat
Prantik Lake
Chimbuk
Bagakain Lake (Boga Lake)
Rijuk Fall
Keokradong
Tahjingdong
Shangu River
Golden Temple
Nilgiri
Mirinja Parjatan
Upabon Parjatan

The three highest peak of Bangladesh Tahjindong (1280 meters, also

known as bijoy), Mowdok Mual (1052 meters), and Keokradong (883
metres) are located in Bandarban district, as well as Raikhiang Lake,
the highest lake in Bangladesh. Chimbuk peak and Boga Lake are two Map of Bandarban District
more highly noted features of the district. Though most Bangladesh
sources cite Keokradong as the highest peak in the country, but Tazing Dong (sometimes spelled as
Tahjingdong, and also known as Bijoy) lying further east is recognised both by government and expert sources
as a taller peak. Measurements taken by English adventurer Ginge Fullen shows that an officially unnamed
peak near the Myanmar border (locally known as Mowdok Mual) is the highest point in Bangladesh.Recently a
team from Nature Adventure Club took part in an expedition in the mowdok range and agreed with the ginge
fullens statement. They got the height of this peak as 3488 feet with gps accuracy of 3-metre. The unnamed
summit is known as 'Saka Haphong' to the local Tripura tribes.

The following is a list of mountain ranges in the area and the tallest peaks of each range:
 Range Peak
Muranja (also known as Meranja) range Basitaung, 664m
Wayla range (most of this range is in Myanmar)
Chimbook range Tindu, 898m
Batimain range Batitaung, 526m
Politai range Keokradang, 884m; Ramiu Taung 921m
Saichal-Mowdok range Bilaisari, 669m; Mowdok Mual 1,003m
Saichal range Waibung 808m; Rang Tlang, 958m; Mowdok Tlang, 905m
Wailatong and Tambang ranges

The Sangu River (also known as Sangpo or Shankha), the only river born inside Bangladesh territory, runs
through Bandarban. The other rivers in the district are Matamuhuri and Bakkhali. Parts of Kaptai Lake, the
biggest lake in, Bangladesh fall under the district.

Bandarban Town
A nearly 52 km hill-town housing about 32,000 people, of which
the majority are Marma. There is a Tribal Cultural Institute here,
which features a library and a museum. The town also features
Bandarban Town Hospital (offering the best medical service in the
district), the District Public Library, Bandarban Government
College, the District Stadium, banashri, the solitary cinema, the
royal cemetery, and, of course, the Royal Palace (two of them since
the 11th and 13th royal lines both claim the throne). Apart from the
numerous kyangs and mosques, there is a temple dedicated to Kali,
the most revered goddess of Hindus is Bangladesh, as well as a
centre maintained by ISKON. There ia Christian Church named
Fatima Rani Catholic Church,located at Jadi Para. It is led by the Bandarban DC Office
Congregation of Bangladesh Holy Cross Fathers.

History
In the early days of 15th century, the Arakanese kingdom, where Mrauk U was the capital, expended its
territories to the Chittagong area of Bengal. After the victory of Arakan on Burma's Pegu kingdom in 1599 AD,
the Arakanese king Mong Raja Gree appointed a Prince of Pegu as the governor of newly established Bohmong
Htaung (Circle) by giving the title of "Bohmong" Raja. That area was mostly populated by the Arakanese
descendants and ruled by the Burmese (Myanmar) noble descendants who started to call themselves in
Arakanese language as Marma. Marma is an archaic Arakanese pronunciation for Myanmar. As the population
of the Bohmong Htaung were of Arakanese descandants, these Myanmar-descendants Bohmong chiefs (Rajas)
of the ruling class took the titles in Arakanese and speak a dialect of the Arakanese language.

Bandarban Hill District was once called Bohmong Htaung since the Arakanese rule. Once Bohmong Htaung
was ruled by Bohmong Rajas who were the subordinates to the Arakanese kings. Ancestors of the present
Bohmong dynasty were the successor of the Pegu King of Burma under Arakan's rule in Chittagong. In 1614,
King Mong Kha Maung, the king of Arakan appointed Maung Saw Pru as Governor of Chittagong who in 1620
repulsed the Portuguese invasion with great valour. As a consequence, Arakanese king, Mong Kha Maung
adorned Maung Saw Pru with a title of Bohmong meaning Great General. After the death of Maung Saw Pru
two successors retained Bohmong title. During the time of Bohmong Hari Gneo in 1710, Arakanese King
Canda Wizaya recaptured Chittagong from the Mughals. Bohmong Hari Gneo helped King Canda Wizaya in
recapturing Chittagong and as a mark of gratitude the later conferred on Bohmong Hari Gneo the grand title of
Bohmong Gree which means great Commander in Chief.
British and Pakistani rule

During the British reign in 1690

The Raide of Frontier Tribes Act
22 was passed which among
other things envisaged the
creation of Chittagong Hill
Tracts District comprising the
entire hilly region along the
south eastern border of present-
day Bangladesh, stretching right
from Tripura in the north and
Myanmar in the south. The act
also provided for the
appointment of a superintendent
A Chakma woman weaving on Tribal Mro people holding traditional
to discharge the administrative
balcony of bamboo house in pipes in their hands, Bandarban
Bandarban
functions under the direct control (1950)
and supervision of Divisional
Commissioner of Chittagong.
However seven years later in 1697 the post of superintendent was re-designated as that of Deputy
Commissioner.

In 1900 the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regulations 1900 was enacted to provide a consolidated and broader legal
framework for the administrative system. This Act with minor modifications constituted the fundamentals for
the administration of three hill districts. Recognizing the special historical and geographical features of the
place as well as uniqueness of tribal population, the Regulation of 1900 divided the entire district into three
circles. Each circle was to be headed by a circle chief whose primary responsibility was to collect revenue,
assisted by a Headman (Head of a Mouza) and a Karbari (Head of a Village) respectively at Mouza and village
level. The Bohmong king was appointed as the Circle Chief of the Bohmong Circle. During the British period,
the area of Bohmong circle under Bandarban and Lama Thana was operated as lowest administrative unit, with
a Circle Officer as its head.

During World War II the area saw the presence of a formidable British military presence that came to stand
against a Japanese invasion. The tribes of these hills held the reputation of unyielding rebellion throughout
history. During the Bangladesh Liberation War (1971) to gain independence from Pakistan, leaders of the tribal
people sought allegiance with Pakistan government.

Since Bangladeshi independence

In the late 1970s, a policy of forced settling of Bengalis into Chittagong Hill Tracts to change the demography
of the region was pursued, which later gave rise to much violence against the hill people and the insurgency led
by Shanti Bahini.[3] There has been an attempt to create a division among tribal cultural lines between the
Chakmas, who led Shanti Bahini, and the Mrus, by creating an anti-Shanti Bahini militia out of them. Now,
after the peace treaty, Bandarban stands as a locally governed ethnic region together with the two other hill
districts. Representation of numerous tribes of the district in the Hill Council now stands as a thorn of dispute
here. Contemporary history of Bandarban has not been a happy one, despite much development initiatives
taken by church organisations and UN agencies like UNICEF, UNDP and UNFPA as well as Bangladesh Army
present in large numbers here. The district is still under a quasi-military rule. Insurgents from across the border
as well as drugs and arms smugglers play a large role in the jungles here. Newspaper reports of discovering
poppy fields[4][5] or arms caches[6] are not rare for Bandarban. There also is much tension between Bengali
settlers and ethnic minorities, as well as between early Hindu settlers and recent Muslim settlers and between
dominant tribes and lesser tribes.

Economy
Heavily dependent on Jumm farming, which is a slash and burn agricultural technique, Bandarban produces
little that is of economic value outside self consumption of the hill people, also known as Jumia. Fruits (banana,
pineapple, jackfruit, papaya), masala (ginger, turmeric) and tribal textile are the major exports of the district,
with tourism growing fast as a source of revenue. Much of the trade in fruit, like most other commerce in the
district, has been taken over by Bengali settlers.

Clothes are mostly made of cotton, wool imported from Myanmar and silk cotton which is a rarity in most of
Bangladesh. All cotton is spun and woven by hand. To promote local textile there now is a Bangladesh Small
and Cottage Industry Corporation (BSCIC) centre in Bandarban together with a wonderful sales centre. BSCIC
has also introduced mechanical spinning and weaving here.

Bamboo and tobacco grows in significant quantity, but largely is not considered as economically profitable
products. Bamboo is used, along with canes, not just to make the traditional stilt houses, but is the material for
most tribal craft, including the bamboo smoking pipe, a major health hazard. Some bamboo-craft and local-
made cigarillos are now exported out of the district.

Two church-based development organisation Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB)
and Caritas are the major forces of development in the district. UNICEF is driving the education effort, which
is mostly directed at younger children.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has inaugurated Bangladesh's highest road Thanchi-Alikadam in Bandarban
through a video conference from Dhaka 2015. Construction work of Thanchi-Alikadam Road which is 2,500
feet above sea level has been finished at a cost of Tk Tk 1.17 billion under army supervision. It helps to speed
up all aspects of people's development in the hill tracts including education and health.

Thanchi-Alikadam Road via Dim Thanchi-Alikadam Road

pahar, 33-kilometre (km) Highest
motorable road in Bangladesh
which is 2,500 feet above sea level

Administration
Administrator of Zila Porishod: Kwa Shwe Hla[7]
Deputy Commissioner (DC): K M Tariqul Islam[8]
Bohmong king: U Chaw Prue[9]

Tourism

We welcome guests, but don't want Bandarban to become Colorful Handmade Shawls made by
crowded or polluted like Rangamati. We don't want to lose the tribal women
our culture nor see it consigned to a museum.

Raja Aung Shue Prue Chowdhury, on tourism

Bandarban lies, by bus, eight hours away from Dhaka, two hours from
Chittagong and three hours from Cox's Bazaar. 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 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)
Tourists buying handicrafts from
at Jadipara and the Ujanipara Bhihar. Bawm villages around Chimbuk,
tribal people
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 Sangu is one of the main attraction 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.[10]

Keokradong, the highest Buddha Dhatu Jadi Jadipai waterfall located Rain, cloud and a sitting
peak of Bangladesh Ruma upazila in Bandarban place, Nilgiri hill,
Bandarban

Scenic view of Nilgiri Boga lake, a lake on the hill Shoilo Propat, a popular
top destination for the
tourists

Ethnographics
There are more than fifteen ethnic minorities living in the district besides the Bengalis, including: Marma, who
are Arakanese descendants or Rakhine and are also known as Magh, Mru (also known as Mro or Murong),
Bawm, Khyang, Tripura (also known as Tipra or Tipperah), Lushei (also known as Lushei), Khumi, Chak,
Kuki, Chakma and Tanchangya (also spelt as Tenchungya), who are closely related, Riyang (also known as
Riyang), Usui (also known as Usui) and Pankho.
The religious composition of the population in 1991 was 47.62%
Muslim, 38% Buddhist, 7.27% Christian, 3.52% Hindu and 3.59%
others.[11] Religious institutions is Mosque 2070, Buddhist 900 (256
temples, 644 pagodas), Hindu temple 94 and Church 2.

The 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. They are proposed as the original inhabitants of
Tribal children
Bandarban.[12][13] The Bawm are another major tribe here. Now
converted almost totally to Christianity they have taken full advantage
of the church to become the most educated people in the district. The Marma, also known as Magh, are of
Arakanese descendants and Buddhists by religion, and are the second largest ethnic group in the hill districts of
Bangladesh. The Chakma and the Tanchangya are also closely related. The Khumi live in the remotest parts of
the district, and the group is thought to include yet unexplored/ unclassified tribes.

These ethnic groups are again divided in hundreds of clans and sects, principally dominated by four religious
threads Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Animism. All these clans and groups are clustered into two
major ethnic families the hill people and the valley people though since the Kaptai dam flooded the valley
to give birth to Kaptai lake, the valley people have started to live on hill tops along the hill people.

Member of ninth Jatiyo Sangshad (2009 )

Bandarban Seat 300 : Bir Bahadur U Shei Ching [from Awami League][14][15]

Notable persons
1. Bohmong king As a man Aung Shue Prue Chowdhury, died on 8 August 2012; member of second
Jatiyo Sangshad (19791982) and state minister under former president Major General Ziaur
Rahman[7][16]
2. Chingla Mong Chowdhury Murruy, born 29 March 1949 Chandragona, Kaptai, Rangamati Hill tracts.
He was a well known footballer, before the liberation war and was the first Indigenous Marma to captain
the Pakistan national team. He coached the BRTC, and was an advisor for BKSP football academy. He
also earned a University Blue in athletics and received a national award in football the highest honour for
sports in Bangladesh. He fought in the Liberation War in 1971 was stationed in Sector-1 (Z force, was
given the honorary Captain title at the time of the liberation war) and fought until 16 December when the
country was liberated. He died on 9 May 2012.

Gallery
Chingry Jhorna Buddha Dhatu Jadi Keokaradong Milestone Nafakhum Fall
Ram Jadi Temple Escape Resort view of Nilachol
(Buddha Dhatu Jadi) Nilachol
Notes
1. Rahman, Atikur (2012)."Bandarban District"(http://e
n.banglapedia.org/index.php?
title=Bandarban_District). In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal,
Ahmed A. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of
Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of
Bangladesh.
2. Chowdhury, Sifatul Quader (2012)."Chittagong Hill
Tracts" (http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Chitt
agong_Hill_Tracts). In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed
A. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh
(Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
3. India urged to raise the minority issues with Khaleda
Zia
(http://www.achrweb.org/press/2006/BD0106.htm),
Asian Centre for Human Rights, 20 March 2006.
4. Poppy Cultivation of 100 Acres at Burma- Bangladesh
Border Destroyed (http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs3/K
P2005-05-10.htm), Kalandan News, 10 May 2005.
5. Poppy cultivations destroyed in border area(http://ww
w.ibiblio.org/obl/docs3/NN2005-03-17.htm), Narinjara
News, 17 March 2005.
6. Bangladeshi security forces seize another weapons
cache (http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs3/BNI2004-11-2
5.htm), BurmaNews International, 25 November 2004.
7. "Daily Jugantor" (https://web.archive.org/web/2012122
8204907/http://jugantor.us:80/enews/issue/2012/08/25/
news0785.htm). Archived from the original (http://juga
ntor.us/enews/issue/2012/08/25/news0785.htm)on 28
December 2012.
8. "10 districts get new DCs"(http://bdnews24.com/bangl
adesh/2012/01/16/10-districts-get-new-dcs).
bdnews24.com. 16 January 2012.
9. "Call to empower traditional CHT institutions"(http://
www.thedailystar.net/country/call-empower-traditional
-cht-institutions-1334266). The Daily Star. 23
December 2016.
10. Tanzimuddin Khan, Mohammad (12 June 2015).
"Securitisation of tourism in CHT New Age"(http://
newagebd.net/128368/securitisation-of-tourism-in-
cht/). New Age. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
11. Amardesh.com (http://amardesh.com/zilla_bandarban.
php)
12. Zaman, Mustafa (24 February 2006). "Mother T ongue
at Stake". Star Weekend Magazine. The Daily Star. 5
(83).
13. From the land of the sunrise the New Age(http://ww
w.newagebd.com/2006/aug/18/aug18/xtra_inner3.html)
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2007091300404
7/http://www.newagebd.com/2006/aug/18/aug18/xtra_i
nner3.html) 13 September 2007 at theWayback
Machine.
14. "Archived copy" (https://web.archive.org/web/2012122
7093348/http://www.parliament.gov.bd:80/mp_list_9t
h.htm). Archived from the original (http://www.parlia
ment.gov.bd/mp_list_9th.htm)on 27 December 2012.
Retrieved 9 January 2013.
 15. "Archived copy" (https://web.archive.org/web/2013082
5072451/http://www.lcgbangladesh.org/parliament/all
mps.php). Archived from the original (http://www.lcgb
angladesh.org/parliament/allmps.php)on 25 August
2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
16. "Archived copy" (http://theindependentbd.com/supple
ment/125626-the-life-and-death-of-the-15th-bohmongr
ee-aung-shwe-prue-chowdhury.html). Retrieved
25 August 2012.

References
Lonely Planet Bangladesh (Lonely Planet Bangladesh) by Richard Plunkett, et al.
"Lonely Planet".
Identity Politics in Central Asia and the Muslim W
orld (Library of International Relations *V
ol. 13) by Willem van
Schendel (Editor), Erik J. Zurcher (Editor)
Deforestation, Environment, and Sustainable Development: A Comparative Analysis by Dhirendra K.ajpeyi V (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
Bandarban travel guide from Wikivoyage
Bandorbon Tourism Spots
Indigenous People of Bangladesh (archived 2008)
Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (archived 2006)

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Categories: Bandarban District Districts of Bangladesh Tourism in Bangladesh

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