CHTs Region
Historical Background:
Until 1860, the CHT was the part of Chittagong District. In order to deal more effectively with the socio-political developments arising from tribal unrest, the area was separated from Chittagong District and constituted a new district under a Superintendent and, at times, a Deputy Commissioner. The administrative district headquarter was first established at Chandraghona, but in 1868 it was shifted to Rangamati. Prior to that the Mughal emperors of Delhi collected tax from local chiefs in the form of bails of cotton. Hence the area was better known as "Karpas Mahal". The Bangla word Karpas means cotton and Mahal means House. After three unsuccessful military expeditions, the British imposed a trade blockade on CHT, which eventually forced Chakma Chief Raja Jan Baksh Khan to surrender before Governor General Lord Warren Hastings in 1787. The British continued the Mughal tax practice until they created a separate administrative district for the region in 1860.
Population:
Total population of the area is 9,9744 (as per Census Report 1991). Now it is said to be about 1.40 million. population of CHTs. Region can be divided into two broad groups - Tribal and Bengali. The former group constitute half of the total population and comprises of 11 ethnic communities with their own culture, heritage and dialect. These are Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Mro, Tanchangya, Bawm, Pankhoo, Lushai, Chak, Khyang and Khumi.
Area and Geographic Location:
Total area of the region is 13,295 sq km. The region lies extreme south-east corner of Bangladesh between latitudes 21 11" and 23 45" north and between longitudes 91 42" and 92 42" east. It is bordered by the Tripura State in the north and Mizoram in the northeast of India. Arakan State of Myanmar in the south-east and Chittagong district southwest.
Climate:
The CHT region lies within a sub-tropical monsoon climate range, characterized by a pronounced warm south-west monsoon rainy season occurring between April and October. The period November to April (May) is referred to as the dry season. Average annual rainfall is 2500 mm, rising to approximately 3000 in the extreme south-east. Annual variation can be significant, with very heavy downpours occurring during cyclones - usually occurring into October. Rainfall intensity (and associated erosivity) can be high and calls for soil conservation measures in hill slope cropping.
Now CHTs region comprises of three Hill Districts Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachari. Two third of the area is covered by wide range of high hills and vast forest land. Land suitable for intensive field cropping accounts for only less than 5% of the total area. The traditional agricultural economy is based on the growing of paddy and other mixed crops on the alluvial valley bottom land and utilisation of hill slopes by shifting cultivation, locally known as 'Jhum'. Continuous utilisation of hill slopes has resulted increase in soil erosion and thereby declination of soil fertility. Communication system in this region is primitive, inadequate and time-taking. Due to peculiar geo-physical condition practically no good communication system could be developed in the past.
Genesis of the Board:
To accelerate overall socioeconomic development in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs.) region an Autonomous Body viz; Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board (CHTDB) came into being in 1976 under Ordinance 77.
Since its inception, CHTDB has been implementing schemes/Projects covering sectors i,e; Agriculture, Transport & Communication, Education, Sports & Culture, Cottage Industry, Social Welfare and Socioeconomic Rehabilitation.
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