# Rangamati District

Rangamati District (Bengali: রাঙ্গামাটি জেলা), officially Rangamati Hill District, is a district in south-eastern Bangladesh. It is a part of the Chattogram Division, and the town of Rangamati serves as the headquarters of the district. By area, Rangamati is the largest district of the country.

## Geography

Rangamati is located in the Chittagong Division. It is bordered by the Tripura state of India to the north, Bandarban District to the south, Mizoram State of India and Chin State of Myanmar to the east, and Khagrachari and Chittagong Districts to the west. Rangamati is the only district in Bangladesh with international borders with two countries: India and Myanmar.
The area of the district is 6,116 km$^2$ of which 1,292 km$^2$ is riverine and 4,825 km$^2$ is under forest vegetation.

## History

Rangamati was a contesting ground for the kings of Tripura and Arakan. This region was ruled by the Mughal Empire after the Muslim conquest in 1566. In 1737, Sher Mosta Khan, a tribal leader, took refuge with the Mughals. Subsequently, the Chakma settlement began along with various other settlements of varying ethnicity. From 1760 to 1761, the area was leased to the East India Company.

## Demography

According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Rangamati Hill District had 153,482 households and a population of 647,586 with an average 4.15 people per household. Among the population, 119,027 (18.38%) inhabitants were under 10 years of age. The population density was 106 people per km$^2$. The literacy rate (age 7 and over) was 71.41%, compared to the national average of 74.80%.The sex ratio of the district was at 106 males per 100 females. Approximately, 47.56% of the population lived in urban areas.
According to the 2022 census, there were a total of 372,875 (57.58%) indigenous people in the district. The population of major ethnic minorities are Chakma 276,048, Marma 51,403, Tanchangya 27,975, Tripura 12,300, Khyang 1,670, and Pankhu 1,398.
* Chakma 42.63 (42.6%)
* Bengali 42.42 (42.4%)
* Marma 7.94 (7.94%)
* Tanchangya 4.32 (4.32%)
* Tripura 1.9 (1.90%)
* Khyang 0.26 (0.26%)
* Pankhu 0.22 (0.22%)
* Others 0.31 (0.31%)

### Bengalis

According to the 2022 census, Bengalis are the second largest ethnic group in Rangamati Hill District (42.42%), nearly as numerous as Chakma people (42.63%).
They are largest ethnic group in Langadu Upazila (76.50%), Kaptai Upazila (55.71%), Rangamati Sadar Upazila (52.33%) and Kaukhali Upazila (44.88%).
| Upazila | Population | Percentage of Bengalis |
| Langadu Upazila | 69,160 | 76.50% |
| Kaptai Upazila | 30,867 | 55.71% |
| Rangamati Sadar Upazila | 76,718 | 52.33% |
| Kawkhali Upazila | 29,763 | 44.88% |
| Rajasthali Upazila | 9,009 | 32.33% |
| Barkal Upazila | 14,393 | 28.96% |
| Bagaichhari Upazila | 29,998 | 28.22% |
| Naniarchar Upazila | 8,864 | 18.27% |
| Belaichhari Upazila | 4,688 | 15.87% |
| Juraichhari Upazila | 1,251 | 4.65% |

### Chakmas

According to the 2022 census, Chakmas are the largest ethnic group in Rangamati District (42.63%).
They are the largest ethnic group in Juraichhari Upazila (91.15%), Naniarchar Upazila (79.89%), Barkal Upazila (69.33%) and Bagaichhari Upazila (66.19%).
| Upazila | Population | Percentage of Chakmas |
| Juraichhari Upazila | 24,548 | 91.15% |
| Naniarchar Upazila | 38,766 | 79.89% |
| Barkal Upazila | 34,462 | 69.33% |
| Bagaichhari Upazila | 70,350 | 66.19% |
| Rangamati Sadar Upazila | 60,449 | 41.23% |
| Belaichhari Upazila | 7,882 | 26.68% |
| Kawkhali Upazila | 17,188 | 25.92% |
| Langadu Upazila | 20,188 | 23.10% |
| Kaptai Upazila | 1,246 | 2.25% |
| Rajasthali Upazila | 269 | 0.97% |

### Marmas

According to the 2022 census, Marmas are third largest ethnic group in Rangamati District (7.93%).
They are the largest ethnic group in Rajasthali Upazila (36.65%) and second largest in Kaptai Upazila (28.59%) and Kawkhali Upazila (27.86%).
| Upazila | Population | Percentage of Marmas |
| Rajasthali Upazila | 10,213 | 36.65% |
| Kaptai Upazila | 15,844 | 28.59% |
| Kawkhali Upazila | 18,477 | 27.86% |
| Belaichhari Upazila | 2,650 | 8.97% |
| Rangamati Sadar Upazila | 2,765 | 1.89% |
| Naniarchar Upazila | 842 | 1.74% |
| Barkal Upazila | 436 | 0.88% |
| Juraichhari Upazila | 75 | 0.28% |
| Baghaichhari Upazila | 89 | 0.08% |
| Langadu Upazila | 12 | 0.01% |

### Tanchangyas

According to the 2022 census, Tanchangyas are the fourth largest ethnic group in Rangamati District (4.32%).
They are the largest ethnic group in Belaichhari Upazila (38.77%).
| Upazila | Population | Percentage of Tanchangya |
| Belaichhari Upazila | 11,452 | 38.77% |
| Rajasthali Upazila | 4,542 | 16.30% |
| Kaptai Upazila | 6,881 | 12.42% |
| Juraichhari Upazila | 858 | 3.33% |
| Rangamati Sadar Upazila | 3,488 | 2.38% |
| Kaukhali Upazila | 677 | 1.02% |
| Others | <100 | <1% |

### Tripuras

According to the 2022 census, Tripuras are the fifth largest ethnic group in Rangamati District (1.90%).
| Upazila | Population | Percentage of Tripuras |
| Rajasthali Upazila | 2,273 | 8.16% |
| Belaichhari Upazila | 1,796 | 6.08% |
| Baghaichhari Upazila | 5,457 | 5.13% |
| Rangamati Sadar Upazila | 2,206 | 1.50% |
| Others | | <1% |

### Khyangs

According to the 2022 census, there are 1,670 kyang in Rangamati District.
| Upazila | Population | Percentage of Khyangs |
| Rajasthali Upazila | 1,420 | 5.09% |
| Kaptai Upazila | 177 | 0.32% |
| Others | <100 | |

### Phankos

According to the 2022 census, there are 1,398 Phankos live in Rangamati District.
| Upazila | Population | Percentage of Phankos |
| Belaichhari Upazila | 498 | 1.69% |
| Rangamati Sadar Upazila | 228 | 0.15% |
| Barkal Upazila | 208 | 0.42% |
| Kaptai Upazila | 143 | 0.26% |
| Baghaichhari Upazila | 117 | 0.11% |
| Juraichhari Upazila | 116 | 0.43% |
| Others | <100 | |

## Religion

Rangamati is the only Buddhist majority district of Bangladesh. But, Two municipalities of Rangamati district, both Rangamati and Baghaichhari have Muslim majority. Moreover, Langadu Upazila has Muslim majority and Kaptai Upazila has muslim plurality. Rangamati Sadar Upazila has Buddhist plurality and others have Buddhist majority.
* Buddhism (57.26%)
* Islam (36.26%)
* Hinduism (5.11%)
* Christianity (1.32%)
* Other (0.05%)
Religion in present-day Rangamati Hill District :
| Religion | Population (1941)$^{:104–105}$ | Percentage (1941) | Population (2022) | Percentage (2022) |
| Tribal | 102,275 | 93.21% | N/A | N/A |
| Islam | 3,963 | 3.62% | 234,834 | 36.26% |
| Hinduism | 2,584 | 2.35% | 33,112 | 5.11% |
| Christianity | 60 | 0.06% | 8,547 | 1.32% |
| Buddhism | 565 | 0.51% | 370,793 | 57.26% |
| Others | 279 | 0.25% | 300 | 0.05% |
| Total Population | 109,726 | 100% | 647,586 | 100% |
As per 1991 census, the Religious institutions in district include Pagoda 1230, Mosque 1059, Temple 65, Church 16. Genderwise, male constituted 53.59% and female constituted 46.41% of the population.

### Buddhism

According to 2022 census, Buddhism is the largest religion in Rangamati Hill District (57.25%).
| Upazila | Population | Percentage of Buddhism |
| Juraichhari Upazila | 25,747 | 95.60% |
| Naniarchar Upazila | 40,362 | 83.18% |
| Belaichhari Upazila | 23,104 | 78.21% |
| Barkal Upazila | 37,686 | 75.81% |
| Bagaichhari Upazila | 72,267 | 67.99% |
| Rajasthali Upazila | 16,294 | 58.48% |
| Kaukhali Upazila | 37,641 | 56.76% |
| Rangamati Sadar Upazila | 71,100 | 48.50% |
| Kaptai Upazila | 25,131 | 45.35% |
| Langadu Upazila | 21,461 | 23.74% |

### Islam

According to 2022 census, Islam is the second largest in Rangamati district(36.26%).
| Upazila | Population | Percentage of Islam |
| Langadu Upazila | 67,465 | 74.62% |
| Kaptai Upazila | 26,245 | 47.37% |
| Rangamati Sadar Upazila | 59,645 | 40.69% |
| Kaukhali Upazila | 26,561 | 40.05% |
| Bagaichhari Upazila | 26,291 | 24.74% |
| Barkal Upazila | 11,305 | 22.74% |
| Rajasthali Upazila | 6,107 | 21.92% |
| Naniarchar Upazila | 7,201 | 14.84% |
| Belaichhari Upazila | 3,137 | 10.62% |
| Juraichhari Upazila | 877 | 3.26% |

### Hinduism

According to 2022 census, Hinduism is third largest religion in Rangamati district(5.11%).
| Upazila | Population | Percentage of Hinduism |
| Rangamati Sadar Upazila | 15,086 | 10.29% |
| Rajasthali Upazila | 2445 | 8.77% |
| Baghaichhari Upazila | 7,089 | 6.67% |
| Kaptai Upazila | 3,452 | 6.23% |
| Kaukhali Upazila | 2,051 | 3.09% |
| Naniarchar Upazila | 906 | 1.87% |
| Belaichhari Upazila | 367 | 1.24% |
| Langadu Upazila | 1,113 | 1.23% |
| Barkal Upazila | 434 | 0.87% |
| Juraichhari Upazila | 169 | 0.63% |

### Christianity

According to 2022 census, Christianity is fourth largest religion in Rangamati district(1.32%).
| Upazila | Population | Percentage of Christianity |
| Rajasthali Upazila | 3,017 | 10.83% |
| Belaichhari Upazila | 2,837 | 9.60% |
| Kaptai Upazila | 564 | 1.02% |
| Baghaichhari Upazila | 604 | 0.57% |
| Barkal Upazila | 272 | 0.55% |
| Juraichhari Upazila | 139 | 0.52% |
| Rangamati Sadar Upazila | 657 | 0.45% |
| Langadu Upazila | 361 | 0.40% |
| Kaukhali Upazila | 55 | 0.08% |
| Naniarchar Upazila | 41 | 0.08% |

## Administration

District Administration is the apex office of a district at the present context of administrative setting of Bangladesh. It is the management of affairs within a district, which is the basic territorial unit of administration in the country. It is at this level that the common man comes into direct contact with the administration. The district falls under the charge of a district officer, called either Deputy Commissioner or District Collector or District Magistrate. This officer acts as the representative of the central government at this level. Like other district administrations of the country, District Administration Rangamati, widely known as the Office of the deputy commissioner is the representative of the cabinet in the Rangamati Hill District.
* Deputy Commissioner (DC) & District Magistrate (DM): Md. Shamsul Arefin
* Chairman of Zila Porishod: Brisketu Chakma
* Chakma King: Debashish Roy

## Education

There are 291 government primary schools, 120 non-government primary schools, 22 junior schools, 6 government high schools, 45 non-government high schools, 2 government colleges, 13 non-government colleges, 61 madrasa, 7 technical schools, Rangamati Medical College and Rangamati Science and Technology University located throughout the district.

## Subdistricts

The district of Rangamati consists of 10 upazilas, 1 municipality (9 wards and 35 mahallas), 50 union parishads, 162 mouzas and 1347 villages.

### Upazilas

* Rangamati Sadar Upazila
* Belaichhari Upazila
* Bagaichhari Upazila
* Barkal Upazila
* Juraichhari Upazila
* Rajasthali Upazila
* Kaptai Upazila
* Langadu Upazila
* Naniarchar Upazila
* Kaukhali Upazila

## Economy

The economy of Rangamati is hugely dependent on agriculture with a total of 41.94% of the population employed there. Other occupational percentages are: agricultural labourer 12.06%, wage labourer 4.95%, commerce 8.22%, service 13.04%, fishing 2.02%, industry 4.57%, forestry 3.2% and others 10%. A grand total of 12275 hectares of land is used for cultivation, producing food and non-food crops such as rice, potato, corn, mustard seed, cotton and jute among others. Fruits such as mango, jackfruit, banana, pineapple, litchi, black berry are also grown in Rangmati.
Notable cottage industries of Rangamati are weaving, blacksmithing and wood work. Weaving is particularly famous for their woolen and jute rugs and hand loom cloth. Major industries include Chandraghona paper and rayon mill, Plywood Factory, Ghagra Textile and a Satellite Station at Betbunia amongst many others, producing and exporting goods.

## Tourism
### Kaptai lake

Kaptai Lake is a man made lake in south-eastern Bangladesh. It is located in the Kaptai Upazila under Rangamati District of Chittagong Division. The lake was created as a result of building the Kaptai Dam on the Karnaphuli River, as part of the Karnaphuli Hydro-electric project. The Kaptai Lake's average depth is 100 feet (30 m) and maximum depth is 490 feet (150 m). This lake was developed by inundating valleys and plain lands between the many hills.

### Hanging Bridge

In Bengali the name of the Hanging Bridge is Jhulonto Bridge and this is also popular to its visitors. This hanging bridge is established on Kaptai Lake. This is the link way of Kaptai Lake. The total height of this bridge is 335 feet and is the landmark icon of Rangamati.

### Kaptai National Park

Kaptai National Park cascades between the Karnaphuly and Kaptai Mountain assortments. It was conventional in 1999 and its area is 5,464.78 hectares (13,503.8 acres). Prior to announcement of the national park it was Sitapahar Reserve. It is about 57 kilometre from Chittagong city. In this park one can find plenty of old trees which were planted in 1873. In Kaptai National Park, there is various wildlife such as deer, jungle cat, elephant, monkey, etc. Many species of birds may also be of interest to tourists and bird lovers. Kaptai National Park is a safe and sanctuary for birds and other wildlife. The Forest Division founded picnic spots, and restaurants in this park.

### Shuvolong Waterfalls

Shuvolong a place in Barkol sub district, located about 25 kilometres (11 kilometres as the crow flies) away from Rangamati town. There are few waterfalls in Shuvolong area with the largest one falling from as high as 300 feet. In the past several years, this place has turned into a tourist destination due to its waterfalls and nearby market. Shuvolong is accessible by speed boat or motor boats from Rangamati.

### Sajek valley

Sajek is a union at Baghaichari Upazila in Rangamati districts. Basically it is name of a river which separates Bangladesh from India. The river flows into the Karnafuli River in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Sajek Valley is situated in the North angle of Rangamati, near the Mizoram border boundary area. The valley is 1,800 ft high form sea level. Many small rivers flow through the hills - including the rivers Kachalon and Machalong. The main ethnic minorities on the valley are Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Pankua, Lushai. Marishsha is a name of a place near Sajek Valley. Most of the houses are made with bamboo. There is another place near Sajek, it is Kanlak, and it is known for its orange orchard.
Most attractions of the spot are sun set, rain, morning, evening, and night and aborigine people. Tourists can buy indigenous peoples' products from haat (markets). Roads are like big snake spirals on the mountains. Most of the people are Buddhist and others are Christian here. A new road has been built up to the Ruilui Para by the guidance of Bangladesh army. On the way traveller need to take permission from the army camp. Bangladesh army is very helpful and cooperative. Now mobile network is available here. The valley is in Rangamati but tourists can reach there from Khagrachhari, too. The route is Khagrachhori – Dighinala Bazaar – Bagaihat Bazaar – Machalong Haat – then Sajek. It is 62 km from Khagrachhari. Dighinala to Sajek is 40 km. Main transportation is Chander Gari.
There is another one tourist destination which is popular among tourists named "Konglak Haphong" which is the highest peak of the Sajek Valley.

### Love Point
## Notable People

* Kamrul Islam (footballer)
* Russel Mahmud Liton
* Shahajuddin Tipu
* Alamgir Kabir (film maker)
* Mumtaheena Toya
* Firoja Begum Chino
* Kanak Chanpa Chakma
* Monjulika Chakma
* Parijat Kusum Chakma
* Ritu Porna Chakma
* Suro Krishna Chakma
* Rupna Chakma
* Sudipta Dewan
* Subimal Dewan
* Moni Swapan Dewan
* Kamini Mohan Dewan
* Binoy Kumar Dewan
* Barun Bikash Dewan
* Ushatan Talukder
* Dipankar Talukdar
* Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma
* Manabendra Narayan Larma
* Devasish Roy
* Tridev Roy
* Chandra Kalindi Roy Henriksen
* Chinghla Mong Chowdhury Mari
* Prajnananda Mahathera
* Chaithoai Roaza
* Puskar Khisa
* Shobha Rani Tripura
* Naba Bikram Kishore Tripura
* Mitul Marma
* Gyorvati Tanchangya

## Gallery

* A resort at Sajek union, Rangamati
* Statue of sitting Buddha, Rangamati
* Shubhalang waterfall
* The Hanging Bridge
* Lake surrounded by hills during winter
* Sun Rays Through The Clouds
* Clouds and hills Beside Rangamati Lake
* Fishing boat of the Rangamati locals
* Local People using boats for transportation
* Kaptai Lake view