The economic frontiers and minority construction: the case of the Khyang of Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh

The Khyang is one of the smaller ethnic communities within the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) where people from different ethnic groups such as Bawm, Chak, Chakma, Khyang, Khumi, Lushai, Marma, Mro, Pangkhua, Tanchangya, and Tripura live including the majority group of the country the Bangalee people. The research focuses on the historical perspective of changing economic frontiers at the CHT and the socio-economic condition of the Khyang. Historically, the CHT has been regarded as one of the economically backward place of the country and many economic development programmers have taken place to develop the area and improve the life of the ethnic minority groups living there. The development initiatives have often proven to marginalize the ethnic minority groups. The Field material for the paper is collected from Bandarban and Rangamati of Chittagong Hill Tracts through participant observation. The findings indicate that among the Khyang the changes of economic frontiers have been taking place with coming of the administration and security forces, massive migration of Bangalee people, encroaching market and urbanization. In the process, the Khyang were subjected to change of available livelihood options, seasonality of economic activities and into a position of economic marginalization. The case of the Khyang provides evidence for the fact that attempts of development and modernization by government and non-government organizations sometimes lead to extreme levels of uncertainty about the legitimacy of established identity, rights and claims.