Struggling Against Exclusion Adibasi in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh Rahman, Mashiur
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Struggling Against Exclusion Adibasi in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh Rahman, Mashiur 2011 Link to publication Citation for published version (APA): Rahman, M. (2011). Struggling Against Exclusion: Adibasi in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh. Lund University. 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LUND UNIVERSITY PO Box 117 221 00 Lund +46 46-222 00 00 STRUGGLING AGAINST EXCLUSION Struggling Against Exclusion Adibasi in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh Md. Mashiur Rahman Lund Dissertations in Sociology 95 A complete list of publications from the Dept. of Sociology, Lund University, can be found at the end of the book and at www.soc.lu.se/info/publ. copyright © Md. Mashiur Rahman 2011 graphic design Kjell E. Eriksson typesetting Ilgot Liljedahl cover design Ilgot Liljedahl printed by Media-Tryck, Lund University, Lund, Sweden 2011 ISBN 91-7267-334-6 ISSN 1102-4712 Dedicated to my father Md. Tofazzel Hossain who raised me to have compassion for less fortunate people Contents Acknowledgments 11 List of Abbreviations 13 List of Tables, Figures, Maps and Photo 15 Foreword 17 c h a p t e r 1 Introduction 19 Aims of the Study 20 Rationale for the Study 21 Sociological Inquiry 23 Social Policy 24 Ethnic Minority, Social Policy, and the Role of the State 28 Content of the Following Chapters 31 c h a p t e r 2 Ethnic Minorities in Bangladesh 33 Background and Demographic Contour 33 CHT: Setting 34 How Many Ethnic Groups are there in the CHT? 37 How the CHT is Portrayed in Official Sources 37 Chakma in the CHT 38 Chakma Population in Sonai and Mayni 41 c h a p t e r 3 Methodological Discussion 43 Mixed Methods 43 Participant Observation 44 Census and Survey 46 Interviews 48 Ethical Consideration: Interviewee Confidentiality 50 c h a p t e r 4 An Introduction to the Setting 51 Rangamati 51 Langadu 52 Maynimuk Union 53 Demographic and Cultural Findings on the Settings 55 Traditional Social System 57 c h a p t e r 5 Ethnicity, Nationalism and the Chittagong Hill Tracts Context 61 National Identity in Liberal Nationalism and the Context of CHT Adibasi 66 Pre-colonial Situation (590 -1760) 71 Colonial Annexation: Policy of Exclusion (1760- 1947) 73 1900 Regulation 75 British Rule and the Exclusion of CHT People 77 Nationalist Movement and the CHT Positioning 79 Partition and the Chittagong Hill Tracts 81 Pakistan Period 82 c h a p t e r 6 The CHT Adibasi in Independent Bangladesh 89 Birth of Bangladesh as an Independent State 89 Different Political Regimes in Bangladesh and Their Handlings 92 Border Security and the Army’s Attitude towards the Adibasi 97 Political Solution to the CHT Problem 100 Current Adibasi Political Organizations: JSS, UPDF, JSS Reformist 102 Dysfunctionality of Traditional Feudal System and a Call for Social Change 106 c h a p t e r Exclusion and Marginalization in the CHT 111 Are Adibasi Excluded in Sonai and Mayni? 114 Land Grabbing, Land Losses and Social Exclusion 114 Economic Freedoms Are Becoming Constricted 118 Lack of Social Policy to Ensure Basic Human Needs 128 Food Insecurity 128 Health and Illness 130 Water and Sanitation 131 Education 133 Excluded from Local Governance and Development 136 Muslim Settlers Dominate the Union Council Office 137 Social Security 138 Consequences of Land Losses and Social Exclusion 140 Internal Displaced Population (IDP) 142 c h a p t e r Ethnic Conflict, Militarism and Violations of Human Rights 147 Ethnic Conflict 147 South Asian Features of Ethnic Conflict 148 The Role of the State: Militarism Against South Asian Ethnic Conflict 150 Military Dominance over the Adibasi of the CHT 151 Human Rights Situation in Sonai and Mayni 155 Arson 158 Battle at Korolachori in 1979 159 The Langadu Genocide of 1989: Effects in Sonai and Mayni 161 c h a p t e r Ethnic Conflict Management 165 Social Policy Response 166 The Approaches of Multiculturalism 168 The CHT Peace Accord: Initiatives for Ethnic Conflict Management 171 Achievements and Shortcomings of the Peace Accord 173 Unimplemented and Partially Implemented Promises 176 c h a p t e r 1 0 Conclusion 189 References 197 Acknowledgments Research is always a hard but thrilling work. It can give one new insights and re- quires a broad outlook. In most cases, social research takes time. Within this time, the researcher’s perspective, the situation or the context of the problem may vary. I experienced this in several ways, which forced me to critically view the research topic right throughout the study period. My supervisor Göran Djurfeldt has been with me all through the journey with his fabulous research skills and extraordinary patience in guiding a student. Perhaps I can best acknowledge his contribution by saying that I would be very proud if I could guide any of my students as he has guided me. I recall his very kind e-mails when I first contacted him regarding my research proposal and admission into the Department of Sociology at Lund University. I must add that Lund University has given me a deeper insight into research as well as a new outlook on the academic world. My assistant supervisor Katarina Sjöberg has read my work very assiduously. Several times, her comments, guidance and logical and critical analyses have changed my views and thoughts towards my research. I acknowledge the contribution of Staffan Lindberg, my examiner throughout the course work, as well as those of Anna-Lisa Lindén, professor and former PhD director, Gunnar Andersson, head of the depart- ment of sociology at Lund University and Mats Beronius, former chairman of the department. I must appreciate comments and suggestion provided by Ulf Johansson Dahre, Social Anthropologist, Victor Da Rosa, Professor in Sociology, University of Ottawa, Professor Lipi Ghosh from Calcutta University and Professor Alia Ahmed from Lund University. I must show heartiest gratitude and respect to Dr. Rangalal Sen, my teacher at University of Dhaka who inspired me for higher education and research and provided me the insights on basic sociological theories and on the social prob- lems of Bangladesh Society. I also acknowledge Professor A.K.M Nurun Nabi who always steer me to be devoted to sociological research. I would like to thank Professor Harun-or-Rashid, Pro-vice chancellor and former Dean of social sciences, at University of Dhaka, who helped me to gain a partial scholarship from the University of Dhaka. Professor S. Aminul Islam, A. I. Mahbub Uddin Ahmed and Mahbuba Nasreen helped me to develop the research proposal at the beginning of the study. Professor H.K.S Arefeen, Khondokar Mokaddem Hossain, Monirul Islam Khan, Sadeka Halim, also gave me valuable direction dur- ing my field work in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. 11 Robina Ang and Rupsha Das Gupta have done a fantastic job with their valuable comments and proofreading of my manuscripts. Their excellent suggestions helped me a lot. Lisa Eklund, Axel Fredholm, Olle Frödin, Charlotta Zettervall, Chia Ling Yang and other PhD candidates shared their views on my topic and thus shaped my ideas more accurately and contributed to the fulfillment of the project. Zahir, my colleague, Debasish, Moniruzzaman and Romesh – young fellows of mine – were also very helpful in shaping my research proposal, questionnaire and SPSS results and findings. My youngest brother Bappy and my friend Nasir accompanied me during my last field work at Langadu. I thank the department of Sociology at the University of Chittagong for putting me in touch with such reliable and trustworthy research assistants among their Adibasi students. I cannot really find words to adequately describe Basu Mitro Chakma, a student at the University of Chittagong, and my research assistant. He is an excellent travel guide, and also a very affectionate person. I wish him a safe and bright future. I give my heartiest thanks to all of my respondents, interviewees and key personnel. Without their support, this study would have not been possible. I remember late Professor Syed Ahmed Khan who taught me the gravity of em- pirical research during my Master studies at University of Dhaka. I recall with ap- preciation the late Professor Samsul Huda Harun who encouraged me when I started my dissertation. He unfortunately passed away in the middle of my endeavor. Another personal loss that I suffered during my thesis work was the death of my father in December, 2007. As I was in Bangladesh at that time for the purpose of fieldwork, I could pay my last tribute to him and support my bereaved family. I dedicate this dissertation to his memory. I would also like to specially thank my mother, who has encouraged me and shown me the importance of education. My siblings, friends, and in-laws bestowed on me immense support without which I would not have completed my work.