Chittagong Hill Tracts ((install)) Review

The Chittagong Hill Tracts remain an unresolved wound in Bangladesh’s national fabric. The 1997 Peace Accord was a necessary but insufficient step—a cease-fire that froze injustice rather than reversing it. As long as land alienation continues, the army retains control, and Bengali nationalism denies plurinational reality, the CHT will remain a potential flashpoint. The international community, particularly India and China (which invest in CHT infrastructure), must condition development aid on genuine autonomy. Ultimately, the solution is not secession—which is unrealistic—but a radical reimagining of Bangladesh as a plural, federal state. Without that, the Jumma people will continue to be strangers in their own hills.

The Jumma people have a rich cultural heritage, with a strong tradition of agriculture, hunting, and gathering. They live in small villages, often located on hilltops or slopes, and are known for their skill in weaving, woodcarving, and other crafts.

Located along the borders of India (Tripura and Mizoram) and Myanmar, the region comprises three administrative districts: . The Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh - ResearchGate chittagong hill tracts

The Chittagong Hill Tracts have experienced a protracted conflict, which began in the 1970s and continued until the 1990s. The conflict pitted the Jumma people, who sought greater autonomy and recognition of their rights, against the Bangladeshi military, which sought to maintain control over the region.

Tourism has emerged as a significant sector, with visitors drawn to the region's natural beauty, trekking opportunities, and cultural heritage. However, tourism development has been slow, due to concerns about security and infrastructure. The Chittagong Hill Tracts remain an unresolved wound

The climate in the Chittagong Hill Tracts is tropical, with high temperatures and humidity throughout the year. The region experiences a monsoon season from June to September, with heavy rainfall and flooding. The area is also prone to natural disasters, such as landslides and earthquakes.

The CHT case fits the model (Hechter, 1975). The Bengali state systematically: The Jumma people have a rich cultural heritage,

The Kaptai Dam remains a symbol of dispossession. Newer projects, such as the and the Matamuhuri dam , threaten to displace additional communities without consultation. Indigenous protests have been met with police repression. Climate change exacerbates this: erratic rainfall affects jhum cycles, and flash floods from upstream Indian dams damage remaining lowland fields.

Prior to British rule, the CHT was a loosely governed frontier zone under the influence of Arakanese and Tripuri kings, with local chiefs ( Rajas ) maintaining customary land tenure systems. The British annexed the region in 1760–1761 through the East India Company but recognized its distinctiveness. The was a pivotal instrument: it divided the region into three circles (Chakma, Mong, and Bohmong), each under a hereditary chief, and restricted land ownership and settlement to indigenous peoples. Bengali migration was prohibited. This created a protected enclave, preserving indigenous autonomy at the cost of isolation.

There are no airports in the CHT.

Because the region is geographically remote and politically unique, traveling there requires a bit more planning than a standard trip to Dhaka or Cox's Bazar.