Plain land ethnic minorities totally deprive from higher education and govt job

Only 20 percent plain land ethnic minority people in the country are getting chance in medical and different universities admission in the country, where 80 percent admission quota in ethnic minorities people of Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) people pocket, according to recent study.

The plain land ethnic minorities totally deprive from higher education admission and government job facilities by quota system in the country. The quota system for higher education admission and government job were added to the constitution in the country to be facilitated for backward ethnic minorities.

Only 20 percent plain land ethnic minority people in the country are getting chance in medical and different universities admission in the country, where 80 percent admission quota in ethnic minorities people of Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) people pocket, according to recent study.

Bengalees community people are often seriously neglected at CHT for government job and higher education admission. Bengalees community people are also represent half of the total population of the CHT.
Rabindranath sharan central president of jatiya adibasi parishad (plain land ethnic minority leader Santals,) from told “we are seriously deprived from higher education admission and government job facilities by existing quota system in the country”

He demanded equal distribution of existing quota system. Plain land ethnic communities feel unrepresented and ignored by the political system, he added.

According to Population Census 2022, at least 18,42,815 people were living in Chattogram Hill Tracts of them 50( 9,22,598) percent are Bengalees community people, Chakma 25 percent(4,66.695), Marma, 11.5 (2,13,752) percent , Tripura, 6(1,14,230) percent, Mro 2.8( 52.455), Tanchangya2.5(45,972) and other 2.5(27,113). Total 9, 20,217 ethnic community people are living in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) and 7,29,942 ethnic community people are living in plan land, according to population Census 2022.

After Chattogram Hill Tracts Peace Accord, 1997 an agreement the three hill district ethnic community getting facilities by job to the Chattogram Hill Tracts Regional Council, Zial parishad, autonomous or semi-autonomous institutions, and various corporations. Meanwhile, ethnic communities people are living in plan land are seriously deprived from facilities. Bengalees communities of three Chattogram Hill Tracts who were also represent 50 percent of three hill tracts are often neglected form any higher education admission and government job facilities by quota system in the country.

Making special provision in favor of any backward section of citizens for the purpose of securing their adequate representation in the service of the Republic is a constitutional right under article 29(3).

Five percent for members of minority’s communities were reserved. Quota system was introduced to facilitate representation of a portion of ethnic minorities in government services. The government issued a circular abolishing the quota system for class-I and class-II jobs in the civil service on 4 October 2018. However, the quota system will remain in force for class-III and class-IV jobs.

There are approximately 16, 50,159 people from 45 officially recognized ethnic minority groups in Bangladesh. They constitute approximately 0.99 percent of Bangladesh’s population. Ethnic minorities at Chattogram Hill Tracts districts still occasionally arranged a protest at move to abolish quota. There are 11 ethnic minorities are living in Chattogram Hill Tracts districts. They are Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Mro, Bawm, Pangkhu, Khyang, Khumi, Chak, Lushai and Tanchangya.

The plain land ethnic minorities in the country are Santals, Oraons, Mundas, Mahalis, Pahans, Barmans, Koras, Mushors, Garos and Hajongs. The plainland ethnic groups and living in Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet.

Remlian Pangkhu Zila Parishand member of Rangamati Hill District told that as Pangkhu is not only ethnic minority but also defunct ethnic minority. Thet are seriously deprived from higher education admission and also job facilities by quota system in the country.
Sabbir Ahamd president parbotro Nagorik parishand Rangamati Hill District told this correspondent that Bengalees communities of CHT were neglected form any higher education admission and government job facilities though they represent of over 50 percent of the total three hill tracts people.

He demanded government should specials arrangement for Bengalees communities of CHT as they were most the backward communities in the country.

Dr. Mahfuz Parvez professor of Chittagong University told discrimination can be seen in getting quota facilities among the small ethnic groups of plain land like Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Santal community is 9 percent of the total tribal population but 3 percent and Manipuri community 7 percent but 2 percent of the quota benefits. On the other hand, fifty other ethnic groups have collectively benefited from only 18 percent of the quota, even though their combined population is 33 per cent of the total tribal population.