| Bandarban | |
| Native Name: | Bengali: বান্দরবান |
| Native Name Lang: | bn |
| Type: | District |
| Map Caption1: | Expandable map of Bandarban District |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Bandarban in Bangladesh |
| Coordinates: | 21.8°N 116°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Bangladesh |
| Subdivision Type1: | Division |
| Subdivision Name1: | Chittagong Division |
| Established Title: | As a District |
| Established Date: | 18 April 1981 |
| Seat Type: | Capital |
| Seat: | Bandarban |
| Government Type: | District Council |
| Governing Body: | Bandarban Hill District Council |
| Leader Title1: | District Council Chairman |
| Leader Title2: | Deputy Commissioner |
| Leader Name2: | Yasmin Parvin Tibriji[1] |
| Leader Title3: | Chief Executive Officer |
| Leader Name3: | A. T. M. Kawser Hossain[2] |
| Area Footnotes: | [3] |
| Area Total Km2: | 4479.03 |
| Population Total: | 481106 |
| Population As Of: | 2022 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | BST |
| Utc Offset1: | +06:00 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 4600 |
| Area Code: | 0361 |
| Iso Code: | BD-01 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | HDI (2019) |
| Blank Info Sec1: | 0.574[4] · 19th of 20 |
Bandarban (bn|বান্দরবান) is a district in South-Eastern Bangladesh, and a part of the Chittagong Division.[5] It is one of the three hill districts of Bangladesh and a part of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the others being Rangamati District and Khagrachhari District. Bandarban district (4,479 km2) is not only the most remote district of the country, but also the least populous (population 388,000).[6] There is an army contingent at Bandarban Cantonment.
According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Bandarban District had 106,065 households and a population of 481,106 with an average 4.41 people per household. Among the population, 110,625 (22.99%) inhabitants were under 10 years of age. The population density was 107 people per km2. The literacy rate (age 7 and over) was 63.74%, compared to the national average of 74.80%. The sex ratio of the district was at 105 males for 100 females. Approximately, 40.41% of the population lived in urban areas.[7]
As per the 2022 census, there were 283,123 (58.85%) Bengalis and 197,983 (41.15%) indigenous people in the district.[8] The population of major ethnic minorities living in the district besides the Bengalis, including: Marma 84,170, Mro/Murong 51,448, Tripura 22,572, Tanchangya 14,889, Bom 11,854, Chakma 3,712, Khumi 3,287, Chak 2662, Khyang 2502.
According to 2022 census, Bengalis are the largest ethnic group in Bandarban District(58.85%).
They are largest ethnic group inNaikhongchhari Upazila (83.48%), Lama Upazila (76.22%), Alikadam Upazila (60.64%) and Bandarban Sadar Upazila (56.97%).
| Upazila | District | Percentage of Bengali [9] |
|---|---|---|
| Naikhongchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 83.48% |
| Lama Upazila | Bandarban District | 76.22% |
| Alikadam Upazila | Bandarban District | 60.64% |
| Bandarban Sadar Upazila | Bandarban District | 56.97% |
| Ruma Upazila | Bandarban District | 13.02% |
| Thanchi Upazila | Bandarban District | 12.38% |
| Rowangchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 10.51% |
According to 2022 census, Marmas are Second largest ethnic group in Bandarban District(17.49%).
They are the largest ethnic group in Rowangchhari Upazila (49.48%),Thanchi Upazila (31.37%) and Ruma Upazila (31.04%).
| Upazila | District | Percentage of Marma[10] |
|---|---|---|
| Rowangchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 49.48% |
| Thanchi Upazila | Bandarban District | 31.37% |
| Ruma Upazila | Bandarban District | 31.04% |
| Bandarban Sadar Upazila | Bandarban District | 23.97% |
| Lama Upazila | Bandarban District | 11.32% |
| Naikhongchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 6.15% |
| Alikadam Upazila | Bandarban District | 6.04% |
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.
According to 2022 census, Mru (Murong) are mainly found in Bandarban District(10.69%).They are the second largest ethnic group in Alikadam Upazila (23.77%), Thanchi Upazila (23.57%) and Ruma Upazila (22%).
According to 2022 census, Mru (Murong) are mainly found in Bandarban District(10.69%).
They are the second largest ethnic group in Alikadam Upazila(23.77%), Thanchi Upazila (23.57%) and Ruma Upazila (22%).
| Upazila | Population | Percentage of Mru |
|---|---|---|
| Alikadam Upazila | 15,168 | 23.77% |
| Thanchi Upazila | 7,021 | 23.57% |
| Ruma Upazila | 7,157 | 22.00% |
| Lama Upazila | 10,781 | 7.72% |
| Bandarban Sadar Upazila | 7,280 | 6.55% |
| Rowangchhari Upazila | 1,685 | 6.08% |
| Naikhongchhari Upazila | 2,356 | 3.08% |
According to 2022 census, Tripuras are fourth largest ethnic group in Bandarban District(4.69%).
| Upazila | Population | Percentage of Tripura [11] |
|---|---|---|
| Thanchi Upazila | 6,336 | 21.27% |
| Ruma Upazila | 2,913 | 8.95% |
| Rowangchhari Upazila | 2,143 | 7.73% |
| Alikadam Upazila | 3,452 | 5.41% |
| Lama Upazila | 5,755 | 4.12% |
| Bandarban Sadar Upazila | 1,771 | 1.59% |
| Naikhongchhari Upazila | 202 | 0.26% |
According to 2022 census, Tanchangyas are the fifthth largest ethnic group in Bandarban District(3.09%).
They are the second largest ethnic group in Rowangchhari Upazila (14.39%).
| Upazila | Population | Percentage of Tanchangya |
|---|---|---|
| Rowangchhari Upazila | 3,990 | 14.39% |
| Bandarban Sadar Upazila | 5,605 | 5.05% |
| Naikhongchhari Upazila | 2,881 | 3.77% |
| Alikadam Upazila | 1,977 | 3.10% |
| Others | <100 | <1% |
According to 2022 census, there are 12,311 Bom in CHT. Among them, 11854(96.29%) Boms live in Bandarban District, constituting 2.46% of district's population.
They are third largest ethnic groups in Ruma Upazila(19.89%).
| Upazila | Population | Percentage of Bom |
|---|---|---|
| Ruma Upazila | 6,470 | 19.89% |
| Rowangchhari Upazila | 1,882 | 6.79% |
| Bandarban Sadar Upazila | 2,748 | 2.47% |
| Thanchi Upazila | 685 | 2.30% |
| Others | <100 | <1% |
According to 2022 census, there are 3,713 Chakma in Bandarban district.
| Upazila | Population | Percentage of Bom | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandarban Sadar Upazila | 1,664 | 1.49% | |
| Alikadam Upazila | 574 | 0.90% | |
| Thanchi Upazila | 488 | 1.64% | |
| Lama Upazila | 355 | 0.25% | |
| Ruma Upazila | 305 | 0.94% | |
| Rowangchhari Upazila | 191 | 0.69% | |
| Naikhongchhari Upazila | 135 | 0.18% | |
| Others | <100 | ||
According to 2022 census, there are 3,287 khumis in Bandarban district.
| Upazila | Population | Percentage of Bom |
|---|---|---|
| Thanchi Upazila | 1,829 | 6.14% |
| Ruma Upazila | 890 | 2.74% |
| Rowangchhari Upazila | 436 | 1.57% |
| Others | <100 | |
According to 2022 census, There are 2,662 in Bandarban district.
They are mainly concentrated in Naikhongchhari Upazila, constituting 3.05%(2,329) of Upazila's population.
According to 2022 census, there are 1,670 khyang in Bandarban district .
| Upazila | Population | Percentage of Bom |
|---|---|---|
| Bandarban Sadar Upazila | 1,310 | 1.18% |
| Rowangchhari Upazila | 652 | 2.35 |
| Thanchi Upazila | 359 | 1.20% |
| Ruma Upazila | 158 | 0.49% |
| Others | <100 | |
| Tribal | 57,793 | 94.50% | N/A | N/A | |
| 2,595 | 4.24% | 253,756 | 52.74% | ||
| --- | --- | 142,057 | 29.53% | ||
| 369 | 0.60% | 16,501 | 3.43% | ||
| 0 | 0.00% | 47,054 | 9.78% | ||
| Others | 399 | 0.65% | 21,738 | 4.52% | |
| Total Population | 61,156 | 100% | 481,106 | 100% |
The religious composition of the population in 2022 was 52.74% Muslim, 29.53% Buddhist, 9.78% Christian, 3.43% Hindu and 4.52% others. Religious institutions is Mosque 2,070, Buddhist 1500 (256 temples, 644 pagodas), Hindu temple 194 and Church 2.[13]
According to 2022 census, Islam is the largest religion in Bandarban District(52.74%).
| Upazila | District | Percentage of Islam |
|---|---|---|
| Naikhongchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 79.38% |
| Lama Upazila | Bandarban District | 71.65% |
| Alikadam Upazila | Bandarban District | 54.71% |
| Bandarban Sadar Upazila | Bandarban District | 45.77% |
| Thanchi Upazila | Bandarban District | 8.80% |
| Rowangchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 7.87% |
| Ruma Upazila | Bandarban District | 7.38% |
According to 2022 census, Buddhism is the second largest in Bandarban District(29.53%).
| Upazila | District | Percentage of Buddhism |
|---|---|---|
| Rowangchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 67.58% |
| Thanchi Upazila | Bandarban District | 42.34% |
| Ruma Upazila | Bandarban District | 36.80% |
| Bandarban Sadar Upazila | Bandarban District | 36.49% |
| Alikadam Upazila | Bandarban District | 30.54% |
| Naikhongchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 19.41% |
| Lama Upazila | Bandarban District | 17.09% |
According to 2022 census, Christianity is third largest religion in Bandarban district(9.78%).
| Upazila | District | Percentage of Christianity |
|---|---|---|
| Ruma Upazila | Bandarban District | 37.32% |
| Thanchi Upazila | Bandarban District | 34.43% |
| Rowangchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 17.83% |
| Alikadam Upazila | Bandarban District | 6.51% |
| Lama Upazila | Bandarban District | 6.24% |
| Bandarban Sadar Upazila | Bandarban District | 5.83% |
| Naikhongchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 0.49% |
According to 2022 census, Hinduism is third largest religion in Khagrachhari district(16.76%), Rangamati district(5.11%) and fourth largest in Bandarban district(3.43%). Hinduism is the second largest religion in all other districts of Bangladesh except CHT.
| Upazila | District | Percentage of Hinduism |
|---|---|---|
| Bandarban Sadar Upazila | Bandarban District | 7.85% |
| Alikadam Upazila | Bandarban District | 3.03% |
| Lama Upazila | Bandarban District | 2.92% |
| Ruma Upazila | Bandarban District | 1.71% |
| Thanchi Upazila | Bandarban District | 1.55% |
| Rowangchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 0.76% |
| Naikhongchhari Upazila | Bandarban District | 0.70% |
The India - Myanmar Sabroom - Cox's Bazar railway link has been proposed to connect Sabroom - Khargachari - Rangamati - Bandarban - Satkania - Cox's Bazar and another rail link connecting Bandarban to Tuipang, India.
Bandarban lies, by bus, eight hours away from Dhaka, two hours from Chittagong and three hours from Cox's Bazar. It is also possible to get there by a six-hour bus ride from Rangamati. The Buddha Dhatu Jadi, the Buddhist temple in Bangladesh, located in Balaghata, 4 km from the town. This place attracts many tourists every year. This Theravada Buddhist temple is made completely in the style of South-East Asia and houses the second largest statue of the Buddha in Bangladesh. The waterfall named Shoilo Propat at Milanchari is another place tourists like to visit. The numerous Buddhist temples, known as kyang in local tongue, and bhihars in the town include the highly notable the Rajvihar (royal vihar) at Jadipara and the Ujanipara Bhihar. Bawm villages around Chimbuk, and Mru villages a little further off, are also lie within a day's journey from the town. Prantik Lake, Jibannagar and Kyachlong Lake are some more places of interest. Boat ride on the river Shangu is one of the main attractions here for tourists.