The book, compendium in nature, draws up a map of the Adivasis or small ethnic communities of Bangladesh—27 according to government and around 90 according to different sources. They are distinct and diverse in culture, language, tradition, religion, and history. Eleven of these Adivasi communities live in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in the southeast, a territory with hill landscapes in sharp contrast with the rest of the country. The others live in the Northwest, North-central, Southeast and the coastal fringe of Bangladesh. Two of the ethnic communities—Garo or Mandi and Khasi are matriarchal; the others are patriarchal.

An introduction to the Adivasis of Bangladesh briefly discusses the geographical setting, disadvantages they are faced with, and their defense strategies. Profiles of major ethnic communities, brief descriptions of the little-known ones, a comprehensive list of them with numbers and their spatial distribution form a large part of the book that provides essential empirical information.

A very important section deals with the much talked about Adivasi issues such as the land, forests, access to commons, agricultural practices, invasion of monoculture on the public forestland affecting their life, culture, language, artefacts, identity, and political life.

A number of chapters provide insightful information and form a practical guide about resources on the Adivasis, the actors involved with them in Bangladesh and around the globe, glossary, theories, and concepts.

The facts, anecdotes, and analyses that this book brings together provide not only a map of the Adivasis of Bangladesh living on the fringe but also assists one to understand why their way of life, culture, tradition, history and education stand to be extremely valuable for Bangladesh.

One coherent message the book tries to communicate is that the majority of the Adivasi communities are among the most disadvantaged and socially excluded groups of Bangladesh. Many are historical victims on the fringe. The overwhelming Bangali majority society has a responsibility for their condition today. It is because of their craving for timber that their forests have been severely exhausted. It is because of their greed of land that they have lost what used to be their ancestral domains. It is they who have tried to impose their lifestyle on the smaller and little-known ethnic communities. Consequently, many Adivasis have been dislocated from their land, culture, and history.

In this context it is important that the state recognizes the Adivasis, put in place a legal framework, set mechanisms to pay special attention to them and pursue positive discrimination in favor of the extremely disadvantaged and excluded groups such as those in the tea gardens and on the extreme fringe. With this book in hand one will get some guidance and incentive to think and act differently about the Adivasi communities of Bangladesh.

Publication Details

Published: 2011
Language: English
Hardback: 630 pages
Editor: Philip Gain
Price: Tk.1,500 / US$25

One of the very tiny indigenous communities, the Chaks—with less than 3,000 people—live on the fringe of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). They are concentrated in Naikhongchhari upazila in Bandarban Hill District. Distinctively different from other ethnic communities in Bangladesh, the Chaks have lived in remote forest villages for centuries undisturbed and satisfied with their traditional jum agriculture. But for the past few decades many changes detrimental to their survival have occurred around them. The Bangalis have been settled on their traditional land. These settlers and others coming from neighboring areas have invaded the land that they traditionally and freely used.

The Chaks: Life on the Fringe (Chak: Pranter Jibon) contains findings of a baseline survey on the socio-economic conditions of the entire Chak community and also facts, anecdotes, and qualitative information for a deeper understanding of their life, struggle, and ecological disasters on the fringe.

Publication Details

Published: 2011
Language: English and Bangla
Paperback: English 88 pages and Bangla 80 pages
Edited by: Philip Gain
Price: Tk.150 / US$5

Investigative Reports: Environment and Human Rights (Anushandhani Report: Paribesh O Manobadhikar) is a compilation of selected investigative and interpretative reports on environment and human rights that SEHD has published in the press and its magazines Dharitri and Earth Touch.

The book contains reports on the Phulbari Coal Mine Project and different aspects of the controversial open-pit before and after the grassroots revolt in 2006.

Other reports are on the Modhupur Sal Forest, the third largest forest of Bangladesh and its inhabitants Garo and Koch indigenous communities. The reports present facts and analyses on monoculture plantations financed by external resources, the invasion of banana and pineapple gardens and the killing of some Garos.

The human rights abuses and environmental degradation in Adivasi inhabited areas in the CHT and the plains lands are also highlighted.

Reports on agriculture, industry, nature, forests, shrimp cultivation, fisheries, wetlands, destruction of the Sundarbans, natural disasters and foreign investment are included.

Another chapter contains reports on eviction of sex workers from red light locations and a report on rehabilitation issues of the affected and displaced people of the Jamuna multi-purpose bridge area.

Examination of the fifth, the seventh and the eighth parliament seasons is covered, which will help readers understand the democratization processes and the lawmakers of the country.

This book is intended for use by newspapers, universities, human rights activists, researchers, students and anyone interested in in-depth analyses of some of the key environmental, human rights, and ethnic issues in Bangladesh.

Publication Details

English: 2009
Paperback: 388 pages
Bangla: 2008
Paperback: 418 pages
Editor: Philip Gain
Price: Tk.500 / US$20

Buna is not just a single community, it is a conglomeration of different ethnic communities who live scattered in different parts of the country and are separated from their main bodies. The identity ‘Buna’ is imposed by majority Bangalis on those small communities who come from among Oraon, Bhuiyan, Mundari Pahan, Kurmi, Mahato, Lohar or Karmaker, Munda, Santal, Mahali, Bagdi, Bhumij etc. Buna is a derogatory term in Bangla.

Dependable statistical accounts on the Buna—their population and habitat among others—are difficult to find. According to the government population census of 1991, some 7,421 Buna people live only in Naogaon District. However, field investigation shows that there are 10 to 12 thousand people known as Buna or Sarder, who live in greater Jessore, Faridpur, Kushtia, Satkhira and Manikgonj districts. The identities of these communities are fading out behind the imposed identities like Buna, Banua or Sarder. The book, ‘Buna’ is an effort to introduce this people and provide dependable accounts on them.

Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD) has published this book in the trail of its work on promotion of cultural rights and identities of different small communities. SEHD commissioned Dr. Ashok Biswas to do this work.

The writer visited the Buna inhabited areas and closely observed their lifestyle and their socio-cultural activities. He also conducted a survey in several villages of 12 districts of the country, where the Buna communities live. The survey does a mapping on their population, professions, education, economic activities, ownership of land and other resources, etc. The author has compiled information and statistics that come from his observation, investigation and survey. The book also describes the population, clothing, locality, home, kinship, social system and social division, marriage, norms and values, belief, religious rituals, etc. of the Bunas.

A significant portion of the book deals with the languages—Mundari, Sadri and Santal— the Bunas speak. It describes the phonetics and syntax of Mundari language, guided by ‘Bangala Bhashar Itibrittyo’, authored by eminent linguist Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah. The book also contains a list of Sadri words.

Another focus of the book is on the literature of the Buna communities. It presents the current socio-economic condition of these small communities, which is a tough task as they live scattered. The book will be a useful reference to researchers as well as different types of readers.

Publication Details

Published: 2008
Language: Bangla
Paperback: 73 pages
Prepared by: Dr. Ashok Biswas
Price: Tk.150 / US$10

The photography exhibition Modhupur and Lawachhara: Stolen Forest Threatened Heritage shows the perilous state of the Modhupur and Lawachhara forests and the people who live there. Due to commercial interests, social forestry and plantations, both the forests and the way of life of the indigenous people of these areas have been encroached upon leaving them in a dangerous and vulnerable state.

Exhibition Details

Exhibition: 2008
Catalogue: English
Photographers: Ronald Halder, Philip Gain, Sirajul Hossain
Price: Tk.50 / US$2

The Khasis are believed to be one of the indigenous groups who started to populate the Indian sub-continent ten to twenty thousand years ago. With the greater number of them living in India, this matrilineal ethnic group resides mainly in 11 Upazilas of the greater Sylhet District in the Northeastern region of Bangladesh.

According to the government census of 1991, the Khasi population in Bangladesh is 12,973. However, a great deal of controversy exists over this number. The existing accounts of different sources show a discrepancy as well.

It is in this context that the Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD) conducted a socio-economic survey of the Khasi people from October 2005 to March 2006. The outcome is the report—The Khasis of Bangladesh: A socio-economic survey of the Khasi people.

The villages that the Khasis live in are called punjis. These punjis are normally located on the hillocks. A punji is an attractive destination for anyone taking interest in this unique indigenous community. There are 85 Khasi punjis in Bangladesh. SEHD wanted to cover all of them in its survey. However, it was possible to carry out the survey in 60 punjis. The basic information of the remaining 25 was collected and is provided in the report.

SEHD conducted the survey with the involvement and cooperation of Greater Sylhet Indigenous People’s Forum (GSIPF). The report presents a brief history of the Khasi people and important information on their present status, population, social system, education, livelihood, etc.

A write-up on Lyngngam (also spelt Lyngam), a small section of the Khasis, is appended with the main report. The Lyngngams live in ten villages of Kalmakanda Thana in Netrokona District. Their culture has a great deal of similarity with that of the Garos. The Garos call them Megam. There is no mention of Lyngngam in the population census.

The 60-page survey report also contains photographs, maps, and list of all Khasi punjis and basic information on the punjis. The report is expected to be beneficial to anyone interested to know the Khasis. The report also brings significant tips for the researchers who may home deep interest in the Khasi community.

Publication Details

Published: 2007
Language: English
Paperback: 60 pages
Prepared By: Dr. Thomas Costa and Anindita Dutta
Price: Tk.150 / US$5