Bru in Bangladesh

People Name:	Bru
Country:	Bangladesh
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	2,300
World Population:	248,300
Primary Language:	Riang
Primary Religion:	Hinduism
Christian Adherents:	14.19 %
Evangelicals:	0.00 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Online Audio NT:	No
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	South Asia Tribal - other
Affinity Bloc:	South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

Within Bangladesh the Riang people live almost exclusively in Rangamati district of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Ethnically they relate loosely with the Tripura community, which spreads through much of the Hill Tracts in Bangladesh, through Tripura state, India, and into southern Sylhet division, which is again in Bangladesh.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The language situation among the Riang in Bangladesh is an interesting one. There are thousands of Riang people in Rangamati district, but only about 500 of them reportedly still speak Riang. Most of the other Riang people in Bangladesh now speak a form of Chakma as their mother tongue. Still, it is uncommon for Tripura and Chakma to marry each other, indicating that there is still a significant distinction between the two groups. In Bangladesh most Riang speakers are agriculturalists, and they practice a type of farming which is often referred to as "slash and burn" farming. They live in hilly areas and farm different hillsides on a rotational basis. Their homes are generally made of bamboo and leaves, and most of their villages do not have electricity or roads leading to them.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Riang generally follow the Sonaton religion, but today a significant percentage of Riang speakers in Bangladesh have become Christian. Because Riang church leaders have had minimal training, Riang Christians could benefit from a discipleship ministry. Also, the Riang in general could benefit from evangelistic and community development missions work.

What Are Their Needs?

Because of the distance to schools and the Riang's lack of ability in Bangla the medium of education in government schools most Riang remain fairly uneducated.