The Chakma Indigenous Peoples are the largest ethnic group in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of southeastern Bangladesh, with significant populations also in India and Myanmar. They speak the Chakma language, an Indo-Aryan tongue with its own script, and practice Theravada Buddhism. The Chakma have a rich cultural heritage rooted in storytelling, textile weaving, and ancestral spiritual traditions. Their history is deeply tied to the forested hills and rivers of their homeland, where they have practiced sustainable agriculture and lived in close relationship with nature for centuries.
The Chakma people have long faced systemic marginalization and land dispossession, especially in Bangladesh. Since the 1970s, government-sponsored migration of Bengali settlers into the CHT has led to significant demographic changes, land grabbing, and violent conflict. Despite the 1997 CHT Peace Accord, implementation remains incomplete, and human rights violations persist. In India, many Chakmas are stateless or face obstacles to citizenship and basic services. Across regions, they struggle with limited access to education, healthcare, and political representation—challenges that threaten both their rights and cultural survival.
Despite these hardships, the Chakma people continue to inspire through their peaceful resistance and cultural resilience. They have maintained their traditions, language, and faith under immense pressure, and have become vocal advocates for Indigenous rights in South Asia. Chakma leaders, artists, and youth have taken to national and international platforms to raise awareness and demand justice. Their dedication to nonviolent advocacy, education, and community empowerment serves as a powerful example of how Indigenous peoples can preserve identity and dignity while striving for equity and peace.
