Access to Ethnic Minorities

Although Bangladesh is small in size but ethnic and cultural diversity is rich. Different ethnic groups live in the north, north-east, southern coastal and Chittagong Hill Tracts of the country. Although the official number of these races is 27, indigenous people and researchers claim that the number is 45 or more. The language, culture, songs, festivals, folklore, literature of these ethnicities are famous and colorful. These cultural elements of indigenous ethnicity have contributed considerably to the Bengali language and culture. The rich cultural elements of indigenous ethnicity have enriched us. The people of these communities have very poor contact with the majority of the people of the country. Various socio-economic pressures are pushing the people of these ethnicities into more marginalized positions. And in this way, they are gradually lagging behind in living a better life.

Many members of small ethnic groups of Cox’s Bazar, hilly areas and Mymensingh, Sherpur, Netrokona have been able to get involved in the afforestation activities of the SUFAL project. Not only that, the neglected women ethnic groups, who are lagging behind the mainstream of society, have got various project-based facilities, appropriate training and the opportunity to participate in workshops with other local people. In this way, the SUFAL project is constantly playing an important role in the development of the livelihood of the women small ethnic communities of Bangladesh, as well as creating alternative income opportunities and alleviating poverty and turning them into the prime manpower of the country.

Many of the small ethnic communities are self-reliant today through the SUFAL project. They no longer have to look back on their poverty-stricken days. Now they are dreaming of a new self-reliant tomorrow.