The
Bangladeshi government has sparked outrage by ordering that Jumma
tribal people cannot speak to foreigners, or Bangladesh citizens from
outside the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), except in the presence of a
soldier or government official. The restriction does not apply to
Bengalis – the non-indigenous residents of the CHT.
The CHT, in
southeastern Bangladesh, are home to eleven tribes, known collectively
as Jummas. Land disputes between Bangladesh’s indigenous Jummas and
hundreds of thousands of settlers brought to the region by the
government are commonplace, often resulting in violence against the
Jummas.
Bangladeshi government has sparked outrage by ordering that Jumma
tribal people cannot speak to foreigners, or Bangladesh citizens from
outside the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), except in the presence of a
soldier or government official. The restriction does not apply to
Bengalis – the non-indigenous residents of the CHT.
The CHT, in
southeastern Bangladesh, are home to eleven tribes, known collectively
as Jummas. Land disputes between Bangladesh’s indigenous Jummas and
hundreds of thousands of settlers brought to the region by the
government are commonplace, often resulting in violence against the
Jummas.
Jumma
women and girls are often attacked when they are alone in the forest,
or when they go to the river to collect water or bathe.
women and girls are often attacked when they are alone in the forest,
or when they go to the river to collect water or bathe.
© GMB Akash/Survival
