Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), Bangladesh

Chittagong Hill Tracts, an area located in the south-east of Bangladesh, with over 13,295 square kilometers and the estimated population of 1.5 million people, is one of the most diverse regions in the country.

This is a home to 12 ethnic groups - the majority Bengali and 11 indigenous communities - Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Tanchangya, Mro, Lushai, Khumi, Chak, Khiyang, Bawm, Pangkhua. Each of them having their own distinctive language, culture, and tradition.

More than two decades of conflicts, the rough hilly terrain and remoteness of villages have impacted the economic development of the region leaving widespread unemployment and over half of the population below poverty line.

The economy of the Hill Tracts heavily depends on agriculture, as nearly two thirds of rural households rely on farming as their primary income.

For many communities, access to basic health care is difficult due to the rough terrain and scattered settlements. Lack of human resources is another big challenge for existing health care.

For similar reasons, access to education is made complicated for many rural children. The difficult terrain makes the journey to school much longer and potentially unsafe. More than half of the children enrolled in primary school drop out in the first years, mainly due to the lack of finance, distance to school, safety, not understanding the subjects and need to stay at home to help parents.

As part of the Peace Accord signed in 1997 a decentralized Local Government was established, with responsibilities delegated to the Regional Council and three Hill District Councils, while the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs oversees all activities.

Due to the prolonged conflicts in the area, Chittagong Hill Tracts remained outside the mainstream of development assistance for over 25 years.

Following the signing of the Peace Accord, the people of the Hill Tracts entered a new era. The Accord created new opportunities for development assistance. Local people’s enthusiasm have been matched with the support from international donor community to resume development in the region.