A platform for the Mru: language and cultural hub for the Mru community

Abstract

In the Chittagong Hill Tracts area, as much as 11 ethnic groups reside along with their rich and diverse heritage and culture and the Mrus are one of them. In terms of socio-economic condition, they are lagging way behind other tribes as a result of their isolated living pattern and superstitious beliefs. To get out of the poverty line, the Mrus are trying to be economically solvent but through this process, their language, crafts, tradition and rich culture is being threatened. In addition, they are destroying the forests on which’s resource their whole livelihood depends on. This progress is needed but not at the cost of one’s identity or by threatening the assets of the nation. A platform is needed where this ethnic group can explore their language and preserve it, uphold their rich culture and communicate with us and practice their crafts and earn revenue from it so that their dependency on forest resources reduced. The research has undertaken by using observation and interview methods in some chosen case studies. This paper aims for establish that a platform featuring the Mru language, culture and crafts can actually help this indigenous group to develop their socio-economic state and reduce their dependency on the forest resources.