Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs

The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) is a distinct region in terms of its ethnic, cultural and environmental diversity to the rest of Bangladesh.Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) the only extensive hilly area in Bangladesh lies in southeastern part of the country (21.25'N to 23.45'N latitude and 91.54'E to 92.50'E longitude) bordering Myanmar on the southeast, the Indian state of Tripura on the north, Mizoram on the east and Chittagong district on the west. The area of the Chittagong Hill Tracts is about 13,295 sq km, which is approximately one-tenth of the total area of Bangladesh.The Chittagong Hill Tracts, combining three hilly districts of Bangladesh Rrangamati, khagrachhari and Bandarban districts. The area of the Chittagong Hill Tracts is about 13,295 sq km, which is approximately one-tenth of the total area of Bangladesh.Total population enumerated in the 1991 census was 9,74,447 of which 5,01,114 were tribals and rest are from different communities. The local tribes, collectively known as the Jumma, include the Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Tenchungya, Chak, Pankho, Mru, Bawm, Lushai, Khyang, and Khumi. Among the non tribal communities most of the inhabitants are Bengali Muslim settlers. The remainder are followers of Hinduism, Christianity. and Animism. These tribal and non tribal population of CHT living there keeping communal harmony and their own ethnic cultural, religious and linguistic diversity from a long time.In 1860 it was annexed by the British and was made an administrative district of Bengal. As of today, it is a semi autonumous region within Bangladesh comprising the districts, namely, Khagrachari, Rangamati, and Bandarban, The biggest hydro power generation projects of the country is situated at Kaptai in this area. The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) is a unique geographical and cultural section of Bangladesh comprises with a mix of Rivers, Hills, Forest, lakes and natural Fountains.Decade after decade in this hilly areas different indigenous tribal communities are living with their separate and diverse ethnic specialty. Who are also the part of the mainstream population of Bangladesh. After the Liberation of Bangladesh a faction of tribal people start armed movement pressing the government to fulfill some demands. Which make the whole hilly area politically unrest. After the emergence of Independence The Government of Bangladesh took several development activities for the advancement of the tribal people and the hill tract area of Bangladesh.For avoiding the path of armed conflict and finding a political solution on the other, for a congenial backdrop for establishing peace in Chittagong Hill Tracts area within the jurisdiction of the constitution and keeping the sovereignty of Bangladesh and the whole population of hilly Area of Bangladesh a peace accord (chittagong hill tracts peace accord) was signed between National Committee on Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana-Samhati Samiti on 2nd December 1997After the signing of the peace treaty the unstable situation in the CHT came to an end and the Ministry of Chittagong Hilltracts emerged on 15th July 1998.