Minority Watch, Dhaka: The increasing dominance of Bengali, now spoken by 47.25% of Sherpur’s ethnic population, poses a serious threat to the survival of indigenous languages such as Garo, Koch, and Hajong.
According to a recent survey by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), published on Tuesday (January 28, 2025), these languages are at risk of extinction due to limited intergenerational transmission, which jeopardizes their cultural heritage.
The BBS survey revealed that approximately 50% of ethnic minorities in Sherpur now speak Bengali as their native language, with the remaining population continuing to use indigenous languages.
This shift is driven by the necessity of integrating into mainstream society and the increasing educational and professional demands that prioritize Bengali over indigenous languages.
Overview of Sherpur’s Ethnic Population
According to the “Sherpur Ethnic Survey 2024,” presented at a dissemination event in Agargaon, Dhaka, the total ethnic population in Sherpur is 20,840. This significant demographic represents the district’s rich cultural diversity while highlighting the challenges these communities face.
The “Sherpur Ethnic Survey 2024” also emphasizes the various challenges encountered by ethnic minorities, including linguistic, cultural, economic, and educational disparities.
Ethnic minorities experience high unemployment rates, particularly among youth, with 24.73% classified as NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). Agriculture remains the primary source of income, but limited access to services and remittances hinder economic mobility.
The education system presents its own set of challenges, with a literacy rate of just 64.08%, a notable gender gap, and limited access to higher education. These issues are further compounded by a lack of comprehensive support systems.
Gender disparities are also significant in employment—only 33.94% of ethnic women are employed, compared to 70.10% of men.
Although access to basic services such as electricity, sanitation, and drinking water is relatively high, these socio-economic barriers continue to impede overall development.
To address these challenges, the survey emphasizes the need for urgent policy interventions. These policies should prioritize the preservation of indigenous languages, improve educational access, and create better employment opportunities for ethnic minorities. These steps are crucial to preserving the cultural identity of these communities while promoting their economic and social inclusion.
Endangered Indigenous Languages
The BBS survey detailed the distribution of native languages among Sherpur’s ethnic minorities: Bengali (47.25%), Garo (31.62%), Koch (10.64%), Hajong (5.16%), Acik (4.96%), Marma (0.15%), Hudi (0.13%), Tui Moi (0.04%), and Maroch, Pahariya, and Koch (0.02% each).
The increasing prevalence of Bengali as the primary language among ethnic minorities is a significant threat to indigenous languages, which are at risk of extinction due to limited intergenerational transmission.
Unemployment and Economic Challenges
The study found that the unemployment rate among ethnic groups in Sherpur is 3.80%, slightly higher than the national unemployment rate of 3.6% (LFS-2022). Unemployment is notably higher in urban areas (4.49%) compared to rural regions (3.71%).
Additionally, 24.73% of ethnic youth aged 15-24 are classified as NEET, with the highest NEET rates observed among Hudi (29.03%), Dalu (30.70%), and other smaller groups (40%).
Livelihood and Income Sources
Agriculture remains the primary source of income for Sherpur’s ethnic minorities, accounting for 65.02% of employment. The second-largest employment sector is services, comprising 21.38% of the workforce.
A small percentage (1.42%) of households rely on remittances for their livelihood, with 0.53% receiving foreign remittances in the past 12 months and 21.11% benefiting from domestic remittances.
The highest percentage of domestic remittance-receiving households is found in Jhenaigati Upazila (28.6%), followed by Nalitabari (21.1%).
Education and Literacy Rates:
The literacy rate among Sherpur’s ethnic minorities (aged seven and above) is 64.08%, with a significant gender gap—69.13% among males and 59.07% among females.
The highest literacy rate is found among the Hajong community (73.41%), while the lowest is among the Dalu (52.64%). Despite this, 35.77% of ethnic minorities have never attended school, and only 3.24% have attained graduate-level education or higher. Most have studied up to class VI-IX (21.77%), indicating limited access to higher education opportunities.
Access to Basic Facilities
Sherpur’s ethnic minority households have relatively high access to essential services:
- Electricity: 98.32% of households have electricity, with 97.77% connected to the national grid and 0.55% relying on solar power. However, 1.68% of households remain without electricity.
- Sanitation: 87.15% of households use improved toilet facilities.
- Drinking Water: 97.33% of households have access to safe drinking water.
Disability and Health Concerns
The survey found that 1.84% of the ethnic population has at least one form of disability. The highest rates are among the Dalu (2.38%), followed by the Garo (2.26%), while the lowest is among the Barman (1.40%).
The highest prevalence of disabilities at the upazila level is in Nalitabari (2.51%), followed by Nakla (1.51%).
Gender Disparities in Employment
The employment rate for ethnic minorities aged 15 and above is 51.84%. However, a stark gender disparity exists—over 70.10% of men are employed, compared to just 33.94% of women.
This reflects broader socio-economic challenges faced by ethnic women in securing job opportunities.
Urgent Need for Policy Interventions
Senior government officials and policymakers attended the dissemination event, where Project Director Farhana Sultana presented the findings.
They said, the findings from the “Sherpur Ethnic Survey 2024” highlight the urgent need for targeted policies to protect indigenous languages, improve educational access, and enhance employment opportunities for ethnic minorities.
“With increasing language shifts and socio-economic disparities, it is essential to implement initiatives that preserve cultural heritage while ensuring economic and social inclusion for these communities,” Farhana said.
“These results serve as a crucial reference for developing policies that empower ethnic minorities in Sherpur and safeguard their linguistic and cultural identities,” she observed.