Rangamati (district)

Rangamati Hill District (Chakma:𑄢𑄁𑄉𑄟𑄖𑄧𑄖𑄬 𑄟𑄯𑄚𑄧 𑄥𑄉𑄣) 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. 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 6116 km2 of which 1292 km2 is riverine and 4825 km2 is under forest vegetation. Rangamati was a contesting ground for the kings of Tripura and Arakan. It was known as Reang/Riang Country before East India Company came. This region came under the Mughal Empire after the Muslim invasion in 1566. In 1737, Sher Mosta Khan, a tribal leader, took refuge with the Mughals. After this the Chakma settlement began along with various other settlements of varying ethnicity. From 1760 to 1761, this land was leased to the East India Company. According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Rangamati Hill District had 153,484 households and a population of 647,587, 47.6% of whom lived in urban areas. The population density was 106 people per km2. The literacy rate (age 7 and over) was 71.3%, compared to the national average of 74.7%. As per the 2011 census, there were a total of 386,153 (64.79%) indigenous people in the district. The total population is divided into Bengalis and indigenous communities (ethnic minorities): Chakma, Marma, Tanchangya, Tripuri, Pangkhua, Lushai, Khiang, Murang, Rakhine, Chak, Bawm, Khumi. 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. District Administration is the apex office of a district at the present context of administrative setting of Bangladesh.