Rangamati (District)

Rangamati District
Basic data
Country	Bangladesh
division	Chittagong
Seat	Rangamati
surface	6,116.2 km²
Residents	595,979 (2011)
density	97 inhabitants per km²
ISO 3166-2	BD-56
Website	www.rangamati.gov.bd

Coordinates: 22 ° 23 '  N , 92 ° 7'  E

Rangamati ( Bengali রাঙ্গামাটি জেলা IAST Rāṅgāmāṭi jelā ) is a district in Bangladesh . It lies within the south-eastern administrative unit, the Chittagong Division . The main town is the city of Rangamati . The district has 595,979 inhabitants (2011 census).

geography

The 6116.19 km² administrative district borders in the north on the Indian state of Tripura , in the east on the Indian state of Mizoram and the province of Chin in the eastern neighboring country of Myanmar . Rangamati borders the Bandarban district to the south and the Khagrachhari and Chittagong districts to the east .

The most important bodies of water in the district, which is dominated by forests and mountains, are the largest reservoir in Bangladesh, the Karnaphulistausee and the Kaptai , Karnafuli , Chingri , Maini and Kassalong rivers . Several main mountain ranges run through the district from NW to SE.

The Karnaphulistausee near Tabalchhari

Nature and wildlife

The natural vegetation consists of rainforests, deciduous forests, bamboo forests, ferns and grasslands. In the Kaptai National Park , the natural flora and fauna have largely been preserved.

Wildlife includes elephants, leopards, wild cats, wild dogs and more than 600 different species of birds. Flora and fauna correspond to those of the neighboring state of Myanmar and not the Indian flora and fauna.

Agricultural areas are often created by slash and burn (Jhum in Bengali). This and soil erosion in areas with deforestation are the main reasons for the change in the landscape.

climate

The climate is subtropical and the temperatures fluctuate between 12.5 ° C and 36.5 ° Celsius. The average annual rainfall is 2673 mm. The average humidity is around 70%. There is little rain in the months from November to March. June, July and August are the months with the most rain.

history

In the 9th century the area was part of the Kingdom of Arakan. Later in the Middle Ages it belonged to the Sultanate of Bengal as a vassal territory of Mrauk U and then to the Mughal Empire . At times, however, the region was also ruled by the Kingdom of Arakan and the princely state of Tippera (also called Tripura). From 1666 on, local rulers paid tribute to the Mughal Empire. The weakened Mughal Empire left the area to the British in 1760. From then until 1860 these were limited to the payment of annual taxes. The area became part of the Bengal Presidency in 1860 . But it was not until 1891 that the area of ​​what is now the Rangamati District was finally subdued. After that, it was part of the Chittagong Hill Tracts area . Since gaining independence from the British, it was part of East Pakistan that became Bangladesh in 1971. In the War of Independence of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) the hill tribes were more towards the previous state of Pakistan, because they wanted to reduce the strong Bengali pressure on their settlement areas. The district was created in 1983 by splitting the previous Chittagong Hill Tracts district into different districts.

population

Population development

As everywhere in Bangladesh, the population in the district has been growing rapidly for decades. A special problem for the local population is the immigration of numerous Bengalis. Less than half of the population were born in the district.

Significant places

The most populous place within the district is the district capital Rangamati . The only other city (town) is Baghaichhari . Other places with more than 10,000 inhabitants are Betbunia, Kaptai and Langadu. The urban population makes up a total of 26.78 percent of the total population.

Distribution urban and rural population

Rangamati is one of the most rural districts within the country. The distribution:

Urban and rural population in Rangamati district
	1974 census		1981 census		1991 census		2001 census		2011 census
	number	proportion of	number	proportion of	number	proportion of	number	proportion of	number	proportion of
TOTAL	202,798	100%	301,753	100%	401,388	100%	508.182	100%	595,979	100%
CITY	38,303	18.89%	106,073	35.15%	146.083	36.39%	170.188	33.49%	159,627	26.78%
COUNTRY	164,495	81.11%	195,680	64.85%	255.305	63.61%	337.994	66.51%	436.352	73.22%
Source: Zila Rangamati in the 2011 census, table PT-01, page 17

District population by gender

As in many parts of Bangladesh, the proportion of the female population is lower than the number of male residents.

Distribution of the population by gender in Rangamati district
	1974 census		1981 census		1991 census		2001 census		2011 census
	number	proportion of	number	proportion of	number	proportion of	number	proportion of	number	proportion of
TOTAL	202,798	100%	301,753	100%	401,388	100%	508.182	100%	595,979	100%
Men	111,708	55.08%	168,948	55.99%	220.154	54.85%	274,551	54.03%	313.076	52.53%
Women	91,090	44.92%	132,805	44.01%	181.234	45.15%	233,631	45.97%	282.903	47.47%
Source: Zila Rangamati in the 2011 census, table PT-02, page 17

Ethnic groups

The number of Bengali immigrants has been increasing steadily since Bangladesh gained independence. Nevertheless, at the last census in 2011, 356,153 people (59.76 percent of the population) counted themselves as “tribals”. They are known by the government of Bangladesh under the collective name Jumma . In reality, the term encompasses an extremely diverse range of peoples. In the district these are the eleven peoples of the Chakma (260,545 people in the district), Marma (51,235 people), Tanchangya (27,052 people), Murong , Tripuri , Bawm , Chak , Khyang , Khumi , Lushei and Pankho .

In the sub-districts of Baghaichhari (67,275 of the 96,899 inhabitants), Barkal (34,408 of the 47,523 inhabitants), Juraichhari (25,199 of the 27,786 inhabitants) and Naniarchar (35,314 of the 43,616 inhabitants) the Chakma form clear majorities. In Upazila Rangamati Sadar they are a significant minority with 52,445 people. In Upazila Rajasthali, 10,269 of the 26,083 inhabitants belong to the Marma people. In addition, 16,841 of the 59,693 residents of Upazilas Kaptai and 17,450 of the 59,578 residents of Upazilas Kawkhali are also Marmas. The majority of the Tanchangya live in the Upazilas Belaichari (11,271 of the 28,525 inhabitants) and Kaptai (6389 of the 59,578 inhabitants).

The Bengali are the majority of the population in the Upazilas Kaptai and Langadu. In Upazila Rangamati Sadar, almost half of the population consists of Bengali.

religion

Today there is a growing following of Islam due to the immigration of mostly Muslim Bengali. However, in contrast to the rest of the Muslim-dominated country, Rangamati has a significant number of Buddhists and Hindus. In the Upazila Langadu the Muslims are clear, in the Upazila Kaptai just in the majority. In seven of the ten Upazilas the majority of the inhabitants are Buddhists, in Upazila a relative majority. There are significant Hindu minorities in three Upazilas and a large Christian minority in two Upazilas.

year	Buddhists		Christians		Hindus		Muslims		Other		Total
	number	proportion of	number	proportion of	number	proportion of	number	proportion of	number	proportion of	number	proportion of
1981	179.983	59.65%	4599	1.52%	17,841	5.91%	98,498	32.64%	832	0.28%	301,753	100.00%
1991	216.067	53.83%	4498	1.12%	22,543	5.62%	157,650	39.27%	630	0.16%	401,388	100.00%
2001	284.906	56.06%	8781	1.73%	26,944	5.31%	187.132	36.82%	419	0.08%	508.182	100.00%
2011	347.038	58.23%	8663	1.45%	30,244	5.07%	209,465	35.15%	569	0.10%	595,979	100.00%
Source: Zila Rangamati in the 2011 census, table PT-14, page 22

In the ten Upazilas (sub-districts) the distribution is as follows:

Population in the district's Upazilas by religion
Upazila	TOTAL	Muslims		Hindus		Buddhists		Christians		Other
	Residents	number	proportion of	number	proportion of	number	proportion of	number	proportion of	number	proportion of
Baghaichhari	96,899	22.008	22.71%	6140	6.34%	67,795	69.96%	858	0.89%	97	0.10%
Barkal	47,523	11,023	23.20%	508	1.07%	35,668	75.05%	318	0.67%	6th	0.01%
Belaichari	28,525	3074	10.78%	467	1.64%	22,095	77.46%	2796	9.80%	93	0.33%
Juraichhari	27,786	1265	4.55%	132	0.48%	26,279	94.58%	90	0.32%	20th	0.07%
Kaptai	59,693	30,604	51.27%	3626	6.07%	24,969	41.83%	452	0.76%	42	0.07%
Kawkhali	59,578	21,930	36.81%	1885	3.16%	35,640	59.82%	83	0.14%	40	0.07%
Langadu	81,548	59,511	72.98%	1045	1.28%	20,708	25.39%	244	0.30%	40	0.05%
Naniarchar	43,616	6202	14.22%	893	2.05%	36,383	83.42%	127	0.29%	11	0.03%
Rajasthali	26,083	5265	20.19%	2025	7.76%	15,568	63.52%	3211	12.31%	14th	0.05%
Rangamati Sadar	124,728	48,583	38.95%	13,523	10.84%	61,932	49.65%	484	0.39%	206	0.17%
Source: 2011 census result

education

There is no university in the district, but there are several colleges. At universities there is a pedagogical college for teachers at primary school level, a polytechnic and a technical center. The state education system also includes primary and secondary schools. There are also private schools and a few religious schools ( madrasas ).

But the level of education is at a low level. Only 67.59 percent of 5-9 year olds and 77.88 percent of 10-14 year olds attended school (2011). It is typical of the region that there are more boys than girls going to school.

At the end of the colonial era, almost the entire population was illiterate. That changed little when the area was part of East Pakistan. Despite significant efforts, the goal of full literacy is still a long way off. There are also huge differences. While more than 3 out of 5 people can read and write in urban areas, 1 in 3 people can read and write in rural areas. The following table shows the development:

Literacy in Rangamati District
unit	1991 census	2001 census	2011 census
	proportion of	proportion of	number	proportion of
TOTAL	36.48%	43.60%	249.231	49.73%
Men	45.82%	51.47%	149.237	56.42%
Women	24.68%	34.21%	99.994	42.36%
TOTAL CITY	51.70%	61.69%	91,316	65.77%
City men	59.70%	67 95%	52,631	70.00%
City women	40.20%	53.59%	38,685	60.77%
TOTAL COUNTRY	27.30%	33.94%	157.915	43.59%
Country men	36.70%	42.16%	96,606	51.03%
Country women	16.30%	24.54%	61,309	35.44%
Source: Zila Rangamati, 2011 census, tables PT-15, page 22 and P-07, page 223/224

administration

The Rangamati District is currently divided into ten so-called Upazilas : Baghaichhari, Barkal, Belaichari, Juraichhari, Kaptai, Kawkhali, Langadu, Naniarchar, Rajasthali and Rangamati Sadar. With Baghaichhari and Rangamati Sadar there are only two self-governing cities ( municipality ), 49 Union Parishads (village councils) and 1555 villages within this administrative subdivision .

Population in the Upazilas of the district
Upazila	surface	TOTAL	male		Female		urban		rural		Alphabets		male		Female
	in km²	Residents	number	proportion of	number	proportion of	number	proportion of	number	proportion of	number	proportion of	number	proportion of	number	proportion of
Baghaichhari	1931.26	96,899	50,595	52.21%	46,304	47.79%	19,875	20.51%	77,024	79.49%	33,798	41.87%	20,791	49.10%	13.007	33.90%
Barkal	760.88	47,523	25,614	53.90%	21,909	46.10%	1932	4.07%	45,591	95.93%	17,517	44.50%	11,558	54.20%	5959	33.04%
Belaichari	746.00	28,525	15.174	53.20%	13,351	46.80%	2458	8.62%	26,067	91.38%	7628	32.76%	5202	41.56%	2426	22.53%
Juraichhari	606.05	27,786	14,839	53.40%	12,947	46.60%	5895	21.22%	21,891	88.78%	10,860	46.78%	7343	58.63%	3517	32.90%
Kaptai	259.00	59,693	31,798	53.27%	27,895	46.73%	14,474	24.25%	45.219	75.75%	30,882	59.99%	18,088	65.60%	12,794	53.53%
Kawkhali	339.29	59,578	30,516	51.22%	29,062	48.78%	10,330	17.34%	45.219	82.66%	21,967	44.24%	12,638	49.61%	9329	38.58%
Langadu	388.50	81,548	42,226	51.78%	39,322	48.22%	11,391	13.97%	70.157	86.03%	29,170	44.19%	16,899	49.17%	12,271	38.79%
Naniarchar	393.68	43,616	22,507	51.60%	21,109	48.40%	6192	14.20%	37,424	85.80%	17,467	47.74%	10,472	55.31%	6995	39.62%
Rajasthali	145.04	26,083	13,595	52.12%	12,488	47.88%	3080	11.81%	23.003	88.19%	9786	44.23%	5847	50.71%	3939	37.17%
Rangamati Sadar	546.49	124,728	66,212	53.09%	58,516	46.91%	84,000	67.35%	40,728	32.65%	70.156	64.53%	40,399	69.75%	29,757	58.57%
Source: 2011 census result

economy

The majority of the employed work in agriculture. In total there are (2011) 454,251 people who are older than 10 years. Of these, 113,097 people are in school, 5834 people are looking for work and 136,617 people work in a household. 198,703 people are gainfully employed. Of these, 127,303 (= 64.1 percent) people work in agriculture and fishing, 12,738 in industry and 58,662 in services.

The main agricultural products are rice, corn, ginger and turmeric ( turmeric ). The most common types of fruit are papayas, bananas, pineapples, jackfruit , mangoes, litchis , coconuts and limes. The main export products are rubber, cotton products, ginger , turmeric, pineapple and wood.

health

There is a single hospital and a health center in each subdistrict. There are also smaller health centers and family planning centers at the local level.

traffic

There is not a single railway line in the entire district. Therefore, the regional traffic is mostly handled with auto rickshaws and minibuses and the supraregional traffic with buses.

Web links

• Article on Rangamati District at Banglapedia
• Rangamati at the 2011 census
• Zila Rangamati at the 2011 census