http://www.lightstalkers.org/galleries/contact_sheet/31855 Bandarban (Bengali: বান্দরবান) is a district in South-Eastern Bangladesh, and a part of the Chittagong Division and Chittagong Hill Tracts. Bandarban meaning the dam of monkeys, Bandarban (4,479 km²) is not only the remotest district of the country, but also is the least populated (population 292,900). The three highest peak of Bangladesh - Tahjindong (1280 meters, also known as bijoy), Mowdok Mual (1052 m), and Keokradong (1230 m) - are located in Bandarban district, as well as Raikhiang Lake, the highest lake in Bangladesh. Chimbuk peak and Boga Lake are two more highly noted features of the district. The newly reported highest peak of Bangladesh - Saka Haphong (3488 ft) is also here in Thanchi upazila. The district also features river Sangu, also known as Sangpo or Shankha, the only river born inside Bangladesh territory. There are more than fifteen ethnic minorities living in the district besides the Bengalis, including: the Marma, Mru, Tanchangya, Bawm, Khyang, Tripura, Lushei, Khumi, Chak, Kuki, Chakma, Rakhine or Arakanese, Riyang, Usui and Pankho. The religious composition of the population, as of 1991, is 47.62% Muslim, 38% Buddhist, 7.27% Christian, 3.52% Hindu and 3.59% others. The Mru, also known as Murong, who are famous for their music and dance. The Mru in major numbers have converted to the youngest religion in Bangladesh – Khrama (or Crama) – a religion that prohibits much of their old ways. They are proposed as the original inhabitants of Bandarban.. The Bawm are another major tribe here. Now converted almost totally to Christianity they have taken full advantage of the church to become the most educated people in the district. The Marma, also known as Magh, are of Arakanese descendants and Buddhists by religion, and are the second largest ethnic group in the hill districts of Bangladesh. The Chakma and the Tanchangya are also closely related. The Khumi live in the remotest parts of the district, and the group is thought to include yet unexplored/ unclassified tribe Bandarban is the most exotic tourist attractions in Bangladesh . http://www.lightstalkers.org en-us http://images.lightstalkers.org/avatars/41894/5890_115823004719_711699719_2129078_1871565_n_small.jpg http://www.lightstalkers.org/Md. Arifur Rahman <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278906/Bandarban_Bangladesh_September2010_066_small.jpg' /><br />There are more than fifteen ethnic minorities living in the Bandarban district besides the Bengalis, including: the Marma, Mru, Tanchangya, Bawm, Khyang, Tripura, Lushei, Khumi, Chak, Kuki, Chakma, Rakhine or Arakanese, Riyang, Usui and Pankho. they have their own language, culture and life style <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278906'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278906 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:45:45 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278906 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278906/Bandarban_Bangladesh_September2010_066_small.jpg' /><br />There are more than fifteen ethnic minorities living in the Bandarban district besides the Bengalis, including: the Marma, Mru, Tanchangya, Bawm, Khyang, Tripura, Lushei, Khumi, Chak, Kuki, Chakma, Rakhine or Arakanese, Riyang, Usui and Pankho. they have their own language, culture and life style <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278906'>view full-size image</a> Md. Arifur Rahman <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278873/Bandarban_Bangladesh_September2010_120-2_small.jpg' /><br />the indigenous peoples are very simple. they live in houses made with bamboo. they make their own houses. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278873'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278873 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:45:58 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278873 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278873/Bandarban_Bangladesh_September2010_120-2_small.jpg' /><br />the indigenous peoples are very simple. they live in houses made with bamboo. they make their own houses. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278873'>view full-size image</a> Md. Arifur Rahman <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278846/2_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278846'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278846 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:46:18 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278846 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278846/2_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278846'>view full-size image</a> Md. Arifur Rahman <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278843/Broken_Smiles__Wounded_Hearts_Dr__Md_Arifur_Rahman_small.jpg' /><br />health care facilities are very poor in Bandarban. as these places are far away from urban area there are very few health care center. A Marma women with her child. the child is born with a congenital defect called cleft palate. this defects can be repaired surgically but the women never leave her village and there is no hospital to provide this service in entire Bandarban. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278843'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278843 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:48:47 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278843 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278843/Broken_Smiles__Wounded_Hearts_Dr__Md_Arifur_Rahman_small.jpg' /><br />health care facilities are very poor in Bandarban. as these places are far away from urban area there are very few health care center. A Marma women with her child. the child is born with a congenital defect called cleft palate. this defects can be repaired surgically but the women never leave her village and there is no hospital to provide this service in entire Bandarban. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278843'>view full-size image</a> Md. Arifur Rahman <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278849/03_Md_small.jpg' /><br />a tribal women is waving cloths. the indigenous peoples make their own cloths for use. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278849'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278849 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:49:28 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278849 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278849/03_Md_small.jpg' /><br />a tribal women is waving cloths. the indigenous peoples make their own cloths for use. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278849'>view full-size image</a> Md. Arifur Rahman <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278855/Bandarban_Bangladesh_September2010_030_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278855'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278855 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:50:20 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278855 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278855/Bandarban_Bangladesh_September2010_030_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278855'>view full-size image</a> Md. Arifur Rahman <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278900/5363788771_65fa886f63_o_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278900'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278900 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:50:35 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278900 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278900/5363788771_65fa886f63_o_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278900'>view full-size image</a> Md. Arifur Rahman <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278897/5234429793_093c8838af_o_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278897'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278897 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:50:49 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278897 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278897/5234429793_093c8838af_o_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278897'>view full-size image</a> Md. Arifur Rahman <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278852/Bandarban_Bangladesh_September2010_022_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278852'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278852 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:51:01 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278852 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278852/Bandarban_Bangladesh_September2010_022_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278852'>view full-size image</a> Md. Arifur Rahman <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278876/IMG_5781_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278876'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278876 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:53:21 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278876 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278876/IMG_5781_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278876'>view full-size image</a> Md. Arifur Rahman <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278858/Bandarban_Bangladesh_September2010_031_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278858'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278858 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:53:34 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278858 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278858/Bandarban_Bangladesh_September2010_031_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278858'>view full-size image</a> Md. Arifur Rahman <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278861/Bandarban_Bangladesh_September2010_058_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278861'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278861 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:54:12 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278861 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278861/Bandarban_Bangladesh_September2010_058_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278861'>view full-size image</a> Md. Arifur Rahman <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278867/Bandarban_Bangladesh_September2010_096_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278867'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278867 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:54:50 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278867 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278867/Bandarban_Bangladesh_September2010_096_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278867'>view full-size image</a> Md. Arifur Rahman <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278870/Bandarban_Bangladesh_September2010_106_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278870'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278870 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:53:05 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278870 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278870/Bandarban_Bangladesh_September2010_106_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278870'>view full-size image</a> Md. Arifur Rahman <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278894/5134949250_b58fb17f3c_o_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278894'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278894 Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:53:05 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278894 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278894/5134949250_b58fb17f3c_o_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278894'>view full-size image</a> Md. Arifur Rahman <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278879/IMG_6434_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278879'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278879 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:58:04 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278879 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278879/IMG_6434_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278879'>view full-size image</a> Md. Arifur Rahman <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278882/IMG_6456_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278882'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278882 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:58:04 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278882 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278882/IMG_6456_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278882'>view full-size image</a> Md. Arifur Rahman <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278903/6185202767_5dae4afd6e_o_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278903'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278903 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:58:04 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278903 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278903/6185202767_5dae4afd6e_o_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278903'>view full-size image</a> Md. Arifur Rahman <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278891/5064681316_4df56ec5e1_o_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278891'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278891 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:58:04 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278891 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278891/5064681316_4df56ec5e1_o_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278891'>view full-size image</a> Md. Arifur Rahman <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278885/IMG_6952_small.jpg' /><br />usually women are working more than man in some tribal society. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278885'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278885 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:58:04 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278885 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278885/IMG_6952_small.jpg' /><br />usually women are working more than man in some tribal society. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278885'>view full-size image</a> Md. Arifur Rahman <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278888/IMG_6998_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278888'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278888 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:58:04 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278888 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278888/IMG_6998_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278888'>view full-size image</a> Md. Arifur Rahman <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278864/Bandarban_Bangladesh_September2010_075_small.jpg' /><br />The indigenous people of the hill tracts have been preserving the land and maintaining the ecological balance of the hills for hundreds of years. Their rich culture is a treasure trove worth safeguarding for a country like Bangladesh. The Bangalis must realise that diversity is not a threat, and to uphold the spirit of the liberation the indigenous people must be allowed to practice their culture and religion in the way that has worked for them for so many years. The peace accord drawn up in 1997 was a significant achievement for the whole nation. It showed respect for nationalities other than Bangalis to coexist in the same country. It accepted diversity and deterred the decay of the beautiful hill districts. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278864'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278864 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:58:29 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278864 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1278864/Bandarban_Bangladesh_September2010_075_small.jpg' /><br />The indigenous people of the hill tracts have been preserving the land and maintaining the ecological balance of the hills for hundreds of years. Their rich culture is a treasure trove worth safeguarding for a country like Bangladesh. The Bangalis must realise that diversity is not a threat, and to uphold the spirit of the liberation the indigenous people must be allowed to practice their culture and religion in the way that has worked for them for so many years. The peace accord drawn up in 1997 was a significant achievement for the whole nation. It showed respect for nationalities other than Bangalis to coexist in the same country. It accepted diversity and deterred the decay of the beautiful hill districts. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1278864'>view full-size image</a> Md. Arifur Rahman