Overview

The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) is a largely hilly and forested region in southeastern Bangladesh, bordering India and Myanmar. It is the country’s principal upland area and has long been culturally and geographically distinct from the surrounding Bengali-dominated plains. Administratively the region was a single district during the period of East Pakistan; since 1971 it has been divided into three civil districts: Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban. For basic official information on location and size see location and size information.

Geography and environment

The CHT comprises low mountains and steep ridges separated by narrow river valleys that drain toward Bangladesh’s coastal plains. The terrain is a mosaic of evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, secondary growth, shifting cultivation plots and settled farmland. Although the hills are modest in elevation compared with ranges in neighbouring countries, they form the only substantial upland environment in Bangladesh and create distinct microclimates and hydrological patterns. For topographic summaries and mapping resources consult topography resources and general regional overviews at related overviews.

Climate and ecology

The climate of the CHT is tropical with a marked monsoon season, relatively high rainfall and seasonal variation in temperature. Elevation moderates heat in higher parts of the hills and fosters ecological niches not found on the deltaic plains. The region supports a range of wildlife and plant communities, including species of conservation interest; several reserved forests and protected areas exist though pressures from logging, shifting cultivation and infrastructure development affect habitats. Environmental assessments and conservation reports are available through provincial and international sources referenced at demographic and environmental sources.

Peoples, languages and culture

The CHT is ethnically diverse. Indigenous peoples collectively often use the term Jumma to express upland identity. Major groups include the Chakma, Marma, Tripura (Tipra), Tanchangya, Mro, Bawm and others; smaller communities such as Khumi, Khiyang and Pangkhua are also present. These communities practise a variety of religions — notably forms of Theravada Buddhism, Christianity and indigenous beliefs — and maintain distinct languages, customary institutions and cultural traditions. The linguistic and cultural variety makes the CHT an area of particular interest for anthropological, linguistic and cultural studies. For summaries of ethnic composition and language distribution see partition-era and demographic analyses.

Economy and land use

Local livelihoods include wet-rice cultivation where the terrain allows, shifting (swidden) cultivation, horticulture, forestry products and small-scale commerce. Land tenure in the hills often rests on customary rights and communal arrangements, which can conflict with state-allocated titles, settler land schemes and large development projects. These tensions over land and resource use contribute to social friction and complicate efforts to introduce uniform development measures.

Historical background

Under British colonial administration the hill peoples were governed with special arrangements recognising customary systems and partly autonomous local administration. At the 1947 partition the CHT was placed within East Pakistan, and later, after the Liberation War of 1971, within the independent state of Bangladesh. Post-partition and post-independence land settlement policies, migration from the plains and administrative changes altered local demographics and governance, intensifying disputes over rights and representation; additional historical context is summarised in resources such as religious and historical references.

Political conflict, insurgency and demands

From the 1970s several indigenous organisations pressed for recognition, protection of customary land rights, regional autonomy and safeguards in national law. The Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) emerged as a major political platform and its armed wing, the Shanti Bahini, conducted an insurgency that sought greater self-determination for hill peoples. The political programme articulated by many indigenous leaders included autonomy with a legislative assembly, constitutional recognition of rights, restitution or removal of settlers who arrived after partition, targeted development funding and negotiatory mechanisms for conflict resolution. A concise statement of such demands is preserved in manifestos and archived materials available at statements and manifestos.

The 1997 peace accord and its aftermath

On 2 December 1997 the Government of Bangladesh and the PCJSS signed a peace accord intended to end the armed conflict and establish arrangements for devolved administration, land dispute resolution and development measures. The accord created institutions intended to provide a degree of autonomy and mechanisms for returning land or compensating claimants. Implementation has been partial and uneven; political opposition, legal complexity and differing views within indigenous constituencies have limited the accord’s reach. Analysts and human rights monitors have produced numerous assessments of post-accord progress and shortcomings; further discussion is available at 1997 peace accord materials and in follow-up studies at post-accord assessments.

Administration, security and contemporary challenges

Today the CHT is governed through standard civil administration at district and sub-district levels, with additional institutions created under the peace process. The region also continues to host security forces and periodic law-and-order operations. Key contemporary challenges include unresolved land disputes, demands for fuller implementation of autonomy measures, social integration while preserving indigenous rights, protection of fragile ecosystems and improving health, education and infrastructure outcomes in remote areas. Development efforts must reconcile customary tenure systems, minority rights and national legal frameworks.

Significance and directions for policy

  • Geographic significance: the CHT’s upland ecosystems and watersheds are important for regional biodiversity and hydrology.
  • Cultural significance: its linguistic and cultural diversity represents a distinct component of Bangladesh’s national mosaic.
  • Policy challenges: durable peace depends on fair land settlement, respect for customary systems, inclusive governance and sustained development support.

The Chittagong Hill Tracts remain a complex region where geography, history and politics intersect. Continued progress requires careful negotiation, transparent implementation of agreements and policies that balance conservation, local livelihoods and the rights of indigenous communities. Readers seeking further details can consult the resources linked above for official data, historical analysis and contemporary reporting.