In the true sense the forest is mother to hundreds of species of trees, fauna, and people who consider themselves the children of forest, their traditions, knowledge and much more. With the vanishing natural forest, the forest dwelling indigenous communities of Bangladesh have progressively lost their communal ownership and control over land and other local resources. Their knowledge, cultures and local technologies are also getting lost. This puts them in perilous condition.

What factors have led to this outrageous condition? Most obnoxious arguments come from the government agencies, profiteering companies and agencies from the forest industry, and many supranational institutions that put all the blame on the poor people and the forest-dwelling communities who are indeed the custodians of the forests.

In June 2003, SEHD brought together about 200 indigenous people, forestry professionals, academics, environmentalists and activists to examine the state of the forest and indigenous peoples of Bangladesh and the quality of action that are taken to save the forest and its custodians. Bon, Bonbinash O Bonobashir Jibon Shangram (Forest, Its Destruction and Struggle of the Forest People) compiles keynote presentations of the seminar that explain why the government proposition and that of the supranational regarding the factors for deforestation and depletion of the natural resources are flawed. The conclusion is that the government, external entities, and different proponents must pay attention to for the protection of the forest and forest-dwelling peoples of Bangladesh.

Publication Details

Published: 2004
Language: Bangla
Paperback: 263 pages
Editor: Philip Gain
Price: Tk.250 / US$10

Jum (swidden cultivation) is a form of agriculture practiced by the indigenous communities of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, whose economies, histories and cultures are closely intertwined with it. While a significant percentage of the indigenous hill peoples are still directly involved with jum, contemporary jum cultivators or the jumias are in a tough struggle for survival because of the government policy to restrict or limit the traditional agriculture.

The smaller indigenous communities in the remote areas are particularly affected by government policies and initiatives on plantations, militarization and development activities that put tremendous pressure on the land formerly used for jum cultivation. There is a general tendency to identify jum cultivation as a harmful practice. Moreover, official policies to change the way of life of the jumias through “rehabilitation” programs and related measures also raise concerns.

Despite the importance of swidden agriculture in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, research initiatives to thoroughly understand it is sparse. As a result, most people are oblivious to even what swidden agriculture is. Many also have wrong notions about this traditional agriculture in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

In this vacuum Parbotto Chattagrame Jumchash (Swidden Cultivation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts) authored by Prashanta Tripura and Abantee Harun and published by the Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD) presents some of much desired information and insights. The book is the result of the authors’ research, discusses critical issues concerning jum cultivation in the CHT. Given the general trend of misconceptions and lack of reliable information regarding jum, this book will hopefully fill in the information gap to some extent and refresh many about the myths and flawed notions.

Publication Details

Published: 2003
Language: Bangla
Paperback: 117 pages
Prepared by: Prashanta Tripura and Abantee Harun
Price: Tk.150 / US$5